Dutch prosecutors seek four-year sentence for ANWB worker who ran over thief

Prosecutors are calling for a four-year prison sentence for a Dutch roadside assistance worker who ran over and killed a man who had stolen from him.

The unique case came to trial this week. According to NOS, in 2024, the wegenwachter (roadside mechanic), identified only as Wil van G., 60, chased down, struck, and killed a man who had stolen his phone and wallet. 

Now, as the trial proceeds, prosecutors are seeking a four-year sentence for van G.

The thief stole his phone and wallet

It began on May 16, 2024, when Van G. was partway through a roadside job at a supermarket on the Urkhovenseweg in Eindhoven. 

A 56-year-old man took advantage of the distraction, making off with Van G.’s phone and a wallet holding €600, both taken from the ANWB van while the mechanic had his back turned, reports NOS.

Van G.’s son used Find My Phone to pinpoint the device to a children’s play area on the Kempensebaan. When Van G. arrived, he came face to face with three men and recognised one of them as the person who had robbed him.

Van G. then confronted the thief

According to NOS, he confronted them loudly, a large tyre iron in hand. The man he’d identified as the thief jumped on a bicycle and bolted. Van G. then chased him in his van.

Footage played during the hearing showed the mechanic driving over a grass verge at high speed before ploughing into the cyclist. The thief was caught under the wheels, at which point van G. reversed. 

The victim succumbed to his injuries in the hospital several days later.

Prosecutors seek a four-year sentence

Van G. sat slumped over and barely spoke before the three judges, reports NOS. He had already served seven weeks in pre-trial detention before being let out, as the prison system could not offer him meaningful mental health support.

He told the court he has not worked since the incident and depends on heavy medication to get through the day and sleep at night. He said returning to custody would kill him. 

Prosecutors said they took his condition seriously, but argued the real issue was the manner in which he had pursued a man on a bicycle with a delivery van. 

The Openbaar Ministerie (OM, public prosecutors) told the court that, whatever his intentions, the lethal risk of that choice was obvious to any reasonable person. They are seeking four years in prison and a five-year ban from driving.

A ruling is expected on June 4.

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