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Dutch Royal parade car driver dies in hospital

by mudricky | May 1, 2009 at 01:21 am

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The man who killed 5 spectators when he drove his car through them and crashed in to a monument has died in hospital.

Dutch media has reported his name as Karst Tates aged 38, he had recently lost his job and house and told police before he died that he aimed the car at the Royal family’s bus.

He drove though about 15 people killing 5 spectators, the people were there to see the royal drive down a procession in the city of Apeldoorn, something they do every year for Queens day.

Questions are being asked of the police how the man breached security fences and barriers.

A man who killed five people and injured 13 in an attempt to kill members of the Dutch royal family has died, according to media reports.

The suspect, a 38-year-old identified by Dutch media as Karst Tates, had been in critical condition since the attack during the Netherlands Queen's Day holiday yesterday.

Before his death he reportedly confessed to police that his actions were aimed at the royal family.

Tates rammed his car into the foot of a monument after mowing down people gathered for the annual royal procession in the central city of Apeldoorn.

Twelve people remain in hospital after Tates drove through police barricades towards the bus carrying members of the royal family.

It is believed his vehicle had been stopped and turned back earlier in the day by police.

But it remains unclear how he was able to breach security and charge through barriers, police lines and the crowds and almost reach the royal parade itself.