A memorial meeting was held in the municipality of Hoeksche Waard for those directly involved in the truck accident. The names of the victims were read and mourned together. “You have a time before the accident, and you have a time after.”
Richard (50), Marguerite Taal (32), Arno Koot (62), Joke Klein-de Wit (75), Pieter-Joost Klein (41), Diana Klein (28) and the unborn baby Karolina. The names of the dead were read out “with reverence and deep respect” by Acting Mayor Charlie Aptroot at a special meeting tonight. Still audibly shaken, he commemorated them together with the inhabitants of his municipality.
“A radiant day turned black, jet black”, he addressed the audience. “You have a time before the accident, and you have a time after. That goes for you, that goes for me, for all of us.”
One more woman seriously injured
Aptroot said there is still one woman in hospital, seriously injured. “It is still the question whether and how she will recover. Her husband and son are here tonight. Know that we are with you in thoughts, and that we all hope for a good outcome,” he said to the relatives. Aptroot also indicated that a dog died during the drama. “A dog that was much loved.”
Aptroot indicated that the municipality is far from finished with mourning, but that the thread will be picked up again. “As difficult as that is, because nothing is the same anymore. But together we will continue, we must continue. Let’s support each other in the coming time, be there for each other. We will continue to stand around those affected.”
“Do you want to know the baby’s name?”
Music was played tonight and an eyewitness also spoke. For example, Marten wanted to tell about the conversation that his granddaughter Nina had during the barbecue with the deceased pregnant Diana. “At one point Diana said to Nina, ‘What a beautiful girl you are.’ She apparently repeated that a few times,” he said emotionally.
“Diana then asked for her name. So Nina. ‘Oh’, Diana said, ‘what a beautiful name. It is also very common in Ukraine.’ Later Diana asks: ‘Do you want to know what the baby’s name will be?’, ‘Yes, of course,’ says Nina. ‘Karolina’. It was a secret between Diana and Nina.”
King’s Commissioner Jaap Smit also addressed those involved. He especially expressed his respect for the community, how they deal with each other in this great sorrow. “In a world where it sometimes seems that people no longer know where to find each other and live at different times, it is invaluable that there is a community where you feel a part of and where you feel supported by the people in your environment,” said Smith. “And that commands respect and admiration and may serve as an example these days.”
‘Finding strength to carry on’
Smit concluded with the fact that many people, also outside the municipality, sympathize with the victims. “Know that many think of you and sympathize with you. I sincerely wish you all the strength these days and the coming days and that through the tears of this moment you dare to see the future and find the strength to enter it.”
