Two men remain in critical condition at the hospital following a fatal single-vehicle accident in Heibloem on Sunday afternoon, July 5, 2026.
The crash killed four people, including 38-year-old John Nouwen, a local politician and former participant in the television show Boer zoekt Vrouw.
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The survivors are a 39-year-old man from Roggel and a 20-year-old man from Heythuysen.
They were among six people riding in the vehicle when it veered off the road and struck a tree.
The incident occurred around 2:30 p. m.
at Aan de Heibloem.
Relatives gathered at the police cordon after losing contact with the victims, later receiving confirmation of their deaths.
A police spokesperson confirmed that the road has since reopened to traffic.
The official investigation into the cause of the collision remains fully underway.
Nouwen served as a municipal council member for the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) in Leudal.
The CDA Leudal board and parliamentary group issued a statement expressing disbelief and deep sadness.
“We have learned with disbelief, deep dismay and sadness of the death of our council member John Nouwen.
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For many of us, John was not only a committed and passionate council member, but also a personal friend.
He had a heart for our community and for the people around him. His humor, his alertness and his perfectionism were striking qualities.
As a council member, he was extra driven to represent the agricultural sector. He always did so in a constructive manner and with great expertise.
