A driver, under the influence of both alcohol and drugs, is suspected of having intentionally hit a pedestrian on Saturday morning outside “Le Flagrant Délire” nightclub in the Walloon capital of Namur, the prosecutor’s office announced on Sunday. The victim was seriously injured.
The driver had gotten into his vehicle, along with several passengers, after having been under the influence of alcohol and cannabis. After striking the pedestrian, the suspect fled the scene of the crime, before later surrendering to police.
Presented before a judge, the suspect was charged with attempted murder and malicious obstruction of traffic, and was placed under an arrest warrant. An expert has been appointed to the case to establish the circumstances of the incident.
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A growing number of Belgians are deciding to get behind the wheel after using illicit substances. According to a recent study by the VIAS road safety institute, 6,488 Belgian drivers tested positive for drugs during the first half of 2022, or roughly 35 every day.
Around one in ten Belgians admitted to driving high at least once a month, driven largely by young people. Around half of those who test positive for drugs at traffic stops had consumed cannabis, which experts warn can cause drowsiness and increase the likelihood of accidents.
