The monument to Jan Evert Scholten was badly damaged by the crash
On Saturday evening an unknown man drove, at very high speed, into a monument in the Stadspark in Groningen. The monument to the potato-magnate J.A Scholten has ended up badly damaged after the car smashed into it and burst into flames. The driver died in the process, reports the GIC.
Parts of the monument have cracked due to the fire. A number of bronze ornaments have also been partly melted. The front part of the monument is completely in ruins.
The police have indicated that the accident is unlikely to be a criminal offense, nor is it likely that anyone else was involved in the accident. The victim’s body has now been released to the family.
The Scholten Monument is in memory of Jan Evert Scholten (1849-1918), who was very active in society in Groningen. He was involved in setting up the Stadspark as an area for sports and relaxation. Scholten inherited an enormous conglomerate business built upon potato-meal from his father.
Images via Jippe Jetses
