Danny van Trijp found guilty of causing serious traffic accident: "I have nightmares about it and keep blaming myself"

Danny van Trijp has been found guilty by the court of causing a serious traffic accident that took place in September 2024 on the A16 near Etten-Leur. The Dutch darts player has been given a 120-hour community service order and a six-month driving ban.

The case has had a major impact both within the darts world and beyond, due in part to the severity of the crash and the lasting consequences for the victim.

The crash occurred on a Monday morning in September 2024, when Van Trijp was on the road in his role as a parcel courier. According to the verdict and reports around the case, he attempted to enter the motorway but found himself in heavy traffic and saw no safe gap to merge.

In an effort to create speed and space, he accelerated. At that moment it went wrong: he failed to notice the forming traffic jam and the overhead signs showing a 50 km/h speed limit, and drove into the back of the car ahead at around 100 km/h. This triggered a chain collision involving five vehicles.

A 23-year-old woman in the car directly in front of him was seriously injured. Her injuries proved extremely severe: she suffered a pelvic fracture and had to undergo nine surgeries. She also required long-term home care and lost her home and job. According to her lawyer, there is even a possibility that she may never be able to have children due to the damage sustained.

The judge ruled that there was no reckless driving, but there was serious inattentiveness. According to the verdict, Van Trijp should have assessed the traffic situation better and should not have missed the signs of congestion and the speed restriction.

He was therefore held legally responsible for causing the accident, but the sentence remained relatively limited to community service and a temporary driving ban.

During the hearing, Van Trijp appeared visibly shaken. He spoke openly about feelings of guilt and the mental impact of the crash. “I deeply regret it,” he stated in court. He also said that he struggles with the events every day: “I have nightmares about it and keep blaming myself for what happened.”

He further emphasized that his own situation in no way compares to the victim’s suffering. “What happened to me is nothing compared to what she has had to endure,” said the darts player.

The aftermath of the crash also had direct consequences for his sporting activities. For example, Van Trijp decided earlier this year to withdraw from the UK Open because he was not mentally able to play.

Within the darts community there is understanding for his situation, although the incident continues to cast a heavy shadow over his career. For a player who regularly competes at the highest level, the combination of professional pressure and personal recovery is especially tough.