Dutch Court Acquits Electric Vehicle Makers in Fatal Children's Transport Accident
Netherlands, Friday, 13 February 2026.
A Dutch court cleared the founders of Stint electric vehicles of criminal responsibility for a 2018 train collision that killed four children aged 4-8 years. Despite prosecutors seeking five-year prison sentences and citing multiple technical defects including inadequate brakes and faulty throttles, judges ruled insufficient evidence existed to prove the manufacturers knowingly sold a dangerous product. The dramatic ruling ends seven years of litigation while prosecutors plan to appeal the decision.
Court Ruling Details and Legal Reasoning
The District Court of Den Bosch delivered its verdict on Friday, February 13, 2026, acquitting Edwin Renzen, founder of the Stint electric vehicle company, and Peter Noorlander of criminal responsibility for the tragic accident that occurred on September 20, 2018 [1][3][4]. The judges ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove the defendants knowingly and deliberately put a harmful product on the market [1]. While the court found both men guilty of document forgery, it deemed it inappropriate to impose punishment given that the case had been ongoing for seven years [1]. The court distinguished between guaranteeing maximum safety and deliberately marketing a dangerous product, stating that the defendants operated within that gray area [1].
The 2018 Tragedy and Its Aftermath
The fatal accident unfolded when an electric Stint carrying five children from a daycare facility approached the Oss-West railway crossing and failed to stop, colliding with an oncoming train [3][4][6]. Four children - Fleur, Kris, Dana, and her sister Liva - aged between four and eight years, lost their lives in the collision [3]. An eleven-year-old child, Indy, who was Dana and Liva’s older sister, and the childcare worker operating the vehicle sustained serious injuries [3][4]. The driver, who suffered lasting psychological effects from the trauma, reported being unable to brake and losing control of the vehicle, though no precise cause was ever established [1][6].
Technical Defects and Safety Concerns
Investigators identified multiple technical defects in the Stint vehicle that raised significant safety concerns [1]. The problematic components included inadequate brakes, a faulty throttle mechanism, absence of start-up protection, and no emergency stop capability [1]. The Public Prosecution Service had demanded prison sentences of five years and four months for both defendants, along with corporate fines totaling 360000 euros for their companies [3][4]. Prosecutors argued that the manufacturers were aware of these safety issues since May 2017 but chose not to disclose them to customers [3]. Despite these technical shortcomings, the court determined that missing safety features like an emergency stop button, while potentially beneficial, were not legally required at the time [4].
Legal Implications and Future Appeals
The Public Prosecution Service immediately announced its intention to appeal the court’s decision, describing the ruling as “incomprehensible” [1]. The case represents a unique legal precedent, as manufacturers were held accountable without definitive proof of vehicle malfunction [5]. Defense attorneys Geert-Jan and Carry Knoops had argued throughout the proceedings that there was no mechanical defect and accused prosecutors of suffering from “tunnel vision” during the investigation [3][6]. Following the 2018 accident, Stint vehicles were permitted back on Dutch roads after implementing enhanced safety measures, including mandatory seat belts for children and improved braking systems [1]. Approximately 3,000 Stints continue to transport children daily across the Netherlands, operating under these stricter safety regulations [5].