Video evidence shows Rotterdam woman was driving in fatal Aruba crash, OM says

Kimberly van Ardenne, 23, died in an off-road vehicle crash on Aruba on 13 Sept. 2026 - Credit: - License: All Rights Reserved 1-1-2 Friday, 9 October 2026 - 16:10

The Aruba Public Prosecutor’s Office (OM) has said that Kimberly van Ardenne, a 23-year-old woman from Rotterdam who died in a UTV crash on Aruba, was driving the vehicle herself. The prosecution said its conclusion was based on evidence gathered during the investigation, including video footage. The investigation is still ongoing.

“Following the accident, the media and the victim’s family raised questions about who had been driving the UTV. Some claimed that the victim could not have been behind the wheel. However, evidence collected so far, including video footage, indicates that the victim was driving the vehicle herself,” the OM said.

Aruba police identified Van Ardenne as the driver shortly after the accident. Her boyfriend and a Dutch Marine who lived on Aruba were also in the UTV. Both men survived without serious injuries.

Relatives questioned whether she had been driving, describing her as cautious and someone who disliked driving. Her cousin Stephanie said that she was more of an anxious driver than a thrill-seeker. Earlier reports described claims from witnesses that Van Ardenne was not driving when the group was seen riding the vehicle near Carnival Village, approximately 3 kilometers from the crash site. These accounts contributed to the family's concerns.

The investigation initially fell under the Aruba Police Force (KPA) before being transferred to the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, the Dutch military police, because a Dutch serviceman was involved. The OM is directing the investigation.

Family lawyer Peter Schouten criticized the decision to announce the video evidence publicly. Speaking to NOS, he described it as “extremely strange” that the authorities were releasing information about the footage at this stage. He also said the family considered it “cruel and inhumane” that the video had not been shown to them immediately, arguing that the uncertainty had unnecessarily disturbed their grieving for four weeks.

The technical investigation is continuing, and the OM has said it will not comment further until the investigation is complete. Its current statement establishes its conclusion about the driver's identity, but it is not a final explanation of how the accident happened or a determination of criminal responsibility.