The Public Prosecutor’s Office of Mons provided an update on the ongoing investigation into the tragedy that killed six people, revealing that 130 civil parties, 30 investigators, and 200 witnesses have been identified, with 327 hearings or re-hearings conducted. Additionally, 700 minutes have been written, not including investigation tasks. During the press conference, the Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that the driver, Paolo Falzone, was filming himself while driving at over 150 km/h, and slightly exceeded the authorized alcohol level. No nitrous oxide capsule was found in the vehicle, contrary to press reports. The investigation included a driving expertise, analysis of the driver’s mobile phone, and luminescence tests on the vehicle’s headlights, among other things. A reconstruction of the moment when Fred D’Andrea was hit by the vehicle and events leading up to his death was conducted, but the results and conclusions are confidential. The prosecution has not committed to a timetable or deadline for the legal follow-up, as the qualification of the facts remains provisional and may evolve throughout the procedure.
130 civil parties, 30 investigators, 200 people identified as witnesses, 327 hearings or re-hearings, 700 minutes written without counting the duties of the investigation, these are the figures communicated this Friday by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Mons concerning the investigation in progress since 20 March 2022 and the terrible tragedy that saw the death of six people.
During this press conference, the Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed in particular that the driver, in this case Paolo Falzone, “was filming himself at the time of the events and driving at more than 150 km/h, which was confirmed by the person concerned”, indicated Damien Verheyen, Deputy Public Prosecutor. “He slightly exceeded the authorized alcohol level but, contrary to what has circulated in the press since the tragedy, no nitrous oxide capsule was found in the passenger compartment of the vehicle..”
In addition to the numerous hearings carried out, a driving expertise, an in-depth analysis of the driver’s mobile phone, luminescence tests of the vehicle’s headlights were carried out as well as the extraction and analysis of the electronic components of the vehicle by the manufacturer. “This last analysis is still in progress and aims to compare the information collected in the context of the various duties carried out in order to determine as precisely as possible the course of events, namely the trajectory of the vehicle, the speed, the behavior of the driver, acceleration, deceleration, braking…”
Reconstruction of the drama of Strépy: “the objective is to remove the remaining gray areas”
An extraordinary reconstruction
The reconstruction of a particular moment of the drama took place this Thursday in the presence of Paolo Falzone and Antonio Falzone, his passenger and with the damaged vehicle. This precise moment is when Fred D’Andrea was hit by the vehicle and the events leading up to his death. An extra even wore a gille costume for the sake of veracity. “The results and conclusions of this reconstitution are covered by the secrecy of the instruction. Its purpose was to visualize the facts as described by the accused, victims and witnesses in the context of their hearings and, if necessary, to be able to compare the versions and note their conformity or contradiction with the material elements. of the investigation.”
We know that the versions of the two main protagonists differ in particular on the fact that the passenger was asleep at the time of the impact, which the driver denies.
Regarding the legal follow-up, it is too early for the prosecution to commit to a timetable or a deadline. “The qualification of the facts remains provisional at this stage and is likely to evolve at all stages of the procedure.”, concludes Damien Verheyen.
The investigation into the tragedy that shook Strépy on 20 March 2022 continues with extensive efforts from authorities to uncover the details of the event. With 130 civil parties, 30 investigators, and 200 witnesses identified, the investigation has been thorough and comprehensive. The latest update from the Public Prosecutor’s Office sheds more light on the driver’s behavior and the events leading up to the tragedy. The reconstruction of the specific moment of the incident was also carried out to provide a clearer understanding of the facts. As the investigation progresses, the legal follow-up remains uncertain, and only time will tell how this tragedy will be handled. Amidst the sorrow and grief, the prosecution’s goal remains to remove all remaining gray areas and provide closure to the families affected.