A high-speed train collided with a minibus carrying nine people, including special needs children, near Buggenhout, Belgium on Tuesday. The crash resulted in four fatalities, including two children aged 12 and 15, and severely injured five other children who were hospitalized in serious condition.
Key Takeaways
A high-speed train collided with a minibus carrying nine people, including special needs children, near Buggenhout, Belgium. The crash resulted in four fatalities, including two children aged 12 and 15, and severely injured five other children. According to multiple reports, the bus drove through a closed crossing barrier during morning rush hour.
- Four killed, including two children ages 12 and 15
- Five children critically injured and hospitalized
- Bus driver and escort also among the fatalities
- Train traveling at high speed had no time to brake before impact
- Authorities believe about 100 passengers were aboard the train with none hurt
According to multiple reports, the bus drove through a closed crossing barrier during morning rush hour. Security camera footage showed the minibus moving across the tracks just before impact. The train was traveling at an estimated speed of between 75 mph (120 kph) and 175 mph when it struck the vehicle.
The collision occurred about 20 miles northwest of Brussels, in what officials described as one of Belgium's worst rail accidents in recent history. The bus driver, aged 49, and an escort, aged 27, were also killed. The train had approximately 100 passengers aboard, none of whom were reported injured.
Lisa De Wilde, spokesperson for the East Flanders public prosecutor’s office, stated that the cause of the crash has not yet been established. "What we do know is that the barrier was closed and the red light was on," she said. Federal Police spokesperson An Berger noted that the minibus driver appeared to have plowed through the crossing barrier.
Belgian rail operator Infrabel confirmed that the crossing system was functioning properly at the time of the crash. Frédéric Sacré, a spokesperson for Infrabel, described the impact as "extremely violent," adding that the train operator had no time to brake before collision. Rail traffic in the area was halted following the incident.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 3 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.