Race fans' deaths: driver released

Dean Andrews, top left, Jonathan Chandler, right, with his fiancée, and Shaun Williams, bottom left

A motorist may face charges over a crash in the Netherlands which killed three mid Wales men.

Jonathan Chandler, 28, Dean Andrews, 34, and Shaun Williams, 28, were travelling to the Belgian Grand Prix when the accident happened on Sunday.

The three were all from Newtown, Powys, although Mr Williams was originally from Shropshire.

Dutch police recommended that a driver they questioned is charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

Police in Rotterdam said they had arrested and later released a 47-year-old Portuguese national. Their recommendation on a charge has been sent to the local district attorney.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the three victims had been travelling to the race in the Belgian town of Spa.

The men had stopped behind a car which hit the central barrier

The accident is believed to have happened after a motorist lost control of her car and hit the central reservation of the A16 motorway near Rotterdam.

The three men managed to stop their car in time to avoid a collision - but their vehicle was then hit from behind by a third car.

Two of the men died on their way to hospital. The third arrived at the hospital in a critical condition but died later.

Dutch police spokeswoman Brigidde Van der Poel said: "The three men witnessed an accident when a 20-year-old woman lost control of her car and crashed in front of them.

"They stopped their car but the driver behind reacted too slowly and crashed into them.

"It is a terrible tragedy - we understand the men were on their way to the Belgian Grand Prix."

Dyfed-Powys Police have been liaising with Dutch police and the victims' families.

Work colleagues of the men at Zest Foods in Newtown were shocked by the tragedy.

The three men had travelled by ferry to the Netherlands

Mr Chandler, a development chef, had worked there for nine years. He was engaged to Shelli and enjoyed paint balling and car model making.

Mr Williams had a partner Claire and was a father to Alix and Jay. He was an avid supporter of Everton Football Club.

He worked with Mr Andrews on the production line.

Tim Barlow, managing director of G Costa foods, the factory's parent company, said: "Obviously it is a terrible shock and we don't even know the circumstances properly.

"They were hard working young guys. We are all shocked and saddened by this dreadful news, they were very valued members of the team."

Nick Watson, landlord of The Angel pub in Newtown, said the men were well-known throughout the town.

"We have lost more friends in one fell swoop than you expect to lose in a decade," he said.

"If one person is killed it is a bad thing but when three are killed it is tragic, it is unbelievable.

"Our thoughts are with the families and close friends at the moment."

Mr Watson, who met the men when he lived near Mr Andrews, said the friends all "looked out for each other" and had "a lot of spontaneous fun" together.

He added: "They had a zest for life and died living life to the full. They were always out and about - they didn't sit still for long."

In 2002, two men from Rhayader in Powys died in the Belgian city of Ypres while on their way to watch the Belgian Grand Prix.

Edward Evans, 51, and Geoffrey Edwards, 53, were travelling with six others from Powys when their minibus collided with a lorry at traffic lights.