Prosecutors: Stint Makers Faked Report After Fatal Crash

Prosecutors in the Netherlands accuse the makers of the Stint electric cart of faking a safety report after a 2018 crash that killed four children.

Why it matters: The allegations shift the case from one of tragic negligence to deliberate fraud, with prosecutors arguing the suspects showed a "manipulative and unreliable character."

Driving the news: During the fourth day of the criminal trial, the Public Prosecution Service laid out its case, accusing the company's founders of forgery and of knowingly selling a dangerous product used to transport thousands of children daily.

Details: Prosecutors outlined two central failures:

• A faked report: After an initial brake test by German agency TÜV failed, the suspects allegedly altered the Stint's software to pass a second test and used the manipulated results in legal proceedings.
• An "unforgivable" flaw: The original design lacked a brake switch to prevent the motor from accelerating while braking, a feature the motor's own manufacturer had warned was necessary.

What they're saying: The prosecutor argued the company ignored clear safety warnings and that its founders' judgment was flawed.

The bottom line: The prosecution contends the fatal crash was not just an accident, but the inevitable result of a company that repeatedly ignored warnings and then tried to cover its tracks.