A fatal accident involving a cyclist occurred on Saturday morning on the R4 ring road near Zelzate, prompting an investigation due to unclear circumstances.
The incident happened at approximately 4:30 at the junction of Kanaalstraat and Emiel Caluslaan with the R4. The cyclist, a 59-year-old man from Assenede, was struck by a vehicle and succumbed to his injuries.
Initially, the driver, a 39-year-old man from Zelzate, fled the scene but was subsequently located. He was found to be under the influence of drugs and alcohol and driving without a licence, despite a previous conviction for similar offences.
Due to the unclear nature of the accident, the public prosecutor’s office dispatched a traffic expert to the scene. An autopsy was conducted on Saturday evening, and an investigating judge was appointed to oversee the case.
The driver was arrested on Saturday and appeared before a judge on Sunday. He was released under conditions due to his cooperation with the investigation. The autopsy results will be compared with the findings of the traffic expert.
