"The impact was extremely violent." – Police spokesperson Frederic Sacre
Train Strikes School Minibus in Belgium, Killing Four
Buggenhout, Belgium – A tragic collision between a train and a school minibus at a level crossing on Wednesday morning has left four people dead and two others severely injured.
The incident occurred around 8:08 am local time in the Vierhuizen area of Buggenhout. The minibus was carrying a total of nine people: a driver, an attendant, and seven children. The train, carrying approximately 100 passengers, was scheduled to stop at the next station, roughly one kilometer away.
The collision claimed the lives of four individuals, including two teenagers. Two additional people on the minibus were severely injured. No train passengers were injured, and all were safely evacuated from the train.
Investigation Underway
Thomas Baeken, a spokesperson for rail operator Infrabel, confirmed that footage from the scene shows the barriers were down and the traffic lights were red at the time of the accident. The cause of the crash is now under investigation by local police and the public prosecutor's office.
Interior Minister Bernard Quintin described the event as "a tragic accident" and expressed his condolences to the victims and their families.