Former U21 Dutch captain Rick van Drongelen died hours after being in a car accident on Wednesday morning, when the 23-year-old was on his way to training for his temporary club, KV Mechelen.
The central defender was travelling from Terneuzen in the west of the Netherlands to Mechelen for training. The collision occurred on the N258 road near Axel in the Zeeland province, and as per the local police, the other driver, an 18-year-old teen, from nearby Hulst municipality was pronounced death at the scene.
According to PZC, the accident happened around 7:40 am for unknown reasons. An air ambulance was alerted to assist in the accident, but it was later cancelled. It has been reported by the same media house that the Dutch Police have opened an investigation regarding the accident.
Reacting to the development, Mechelen sporting director Tom Caluwe said:
“We extend our sympathies to the victim’s family. We learned that the accident happened when Rick was on his way to training. Rick has been taken to hospital. His injuries don’t seem to be as bad as first feared. But he will need further medical checks to clarify his situation.”
The Sparta Rotterdam youth product switched to Berlin Union after four years at Hamburger SV in the summer of 2021 for 500,000 euros but played no role at all with the Köpenickers.
As a result, the left-footed player was loaned out to Mechelen in the province of Antwerp until the end of the current season, where he has made ten appearances so far and has helped the Belgian side to sixth in the JPL table, and the play-offs for a Europe League place.
Capped 42 times for Netherlands’ junior sides across different age groups, he last featured for the Under-21 team in 2019.
