Teen Driver in Fatal Brasschaat Crash Had Never Driven Before
A 17-year-old boy who caused a fatal car crash in Brasschaat, Belgium, last month had never driven a vehicle before getting behind the wheel, investigators have revealed. The teenager, who had no driver’s license, was driving at more than double the speed limit when he lost control, killing a 16-year-old passenger and seriously injuring three others.
According to Het Laatste Nieuws, the driver was interrogated for the first time on Monday, June 15 — exactly one month after the crash — at the Brasschaat police station. His lawyer, John Maes, confirmed the interrogation took place but declined to discuss its content, stating it falls under the secrecy of the investigation.
The Crash
The accident occurred on the night of Friday, May 15, 2026, on the Sionkloosterlaan in Brasschaat, an affluent municipality in Antwerp province. The crash took place shortly before midnight. The five teenagers had been attending a family party at a villa just 800 meters from the crash site.
The gray Audi Q7, belonging to an aunt of one of the friends, was traveling at 100 km/h in a 50 km/h zone when it struck a tree with its right side before crashing head-on into a second tree, according to VRT NWS.
Martin Dias (16), a passenger sitting in the back seat, died at the scene. He was the son of the operators of the Van der Valk hotels in Drongen and Nazareth and a student at the hotelschool Ter Duinen in Koksijde. The Van der Valk hotel chain paid tribute to him on Instagram, describing him as “cheerful, warm, loved by everyone who knew him.”
A 14-year-old passenger was initially in life-threatening condition but survived. Two other passengers, aged 16 and 17, were also seriously injured. The driver himself was critically injured, underwent surgery, and has since been recovering at home.
A First-Time Driver
While it was already known that the 17-year-old had no driver’s license — the minimum driving age in Belgium is 18 — HLN reported from reliable sources that the teenager had never driven a car before that night. This was his first time behind the wheel.
According to VRT NWS, the driver’s lawyer confirmed that his client is still recovering at home. “He still needs to rehabilitate at home. I cannot say anything more about the interrogation, that is part of the investigation,” Maes said.
How the teenagers obtained the keys to the Audi Q7 remains under investigation. It is unclear whether they were given permission or took them without consent. Camera footage previously suggested that three different people may have driven the vehicle before the crash.
Legal Consequences
Although a minor, the 17-year-old driver can be prosecuted in traffic court for traffic violations from age 16 in Belgium. If the keys were taken without permission, “theft by use” (gebruiksdiefstal) may also apply, which would fall under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court.
Toxicology results have been completed, but the Antwerp public prosecutor’s office has not disclosed them, stating only that “the investigation is ongoing.” Two other passengers are scheduled for interrogation in the coming week as investigators work to reconstruct the events of that evening in detail.
Public Reaction and Broader Questions
The accident sparked intense public debate in Belgium, particularly due to the involvement of the wealthy Van der Valk family. Online commenters labeled the teenagers as “rich kids,” and many criticized the parents. Experts from Mediawijs noted that the harshest comments came from older demographics, not from the teens’ peers.
Federal Minister and Mayor of Brasschaat Jan Jambon (N-VA), who visited the crash site, called for restraint on social media. “This hits everyone hard. It’s truly terrible that something like this happened. The young people and their families will be marked for life,” he said, as reported by VRT NWS.
What’s Next
The case has reignited discussions in Belgium about unlicensed driving among young people and the broader question of parental responsibility. With the driver now interrogated and further hearings scheduled for other passengers, the legal process is expected to move forward in the coming months. The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the potentially devastating consequences when inexperienced and unlicensed drivers get behind the wheel.