A tragic railway crossing accident in Buggenhout has left four people dead, including two special needs students, after a train collided with a school minivan on Tuesday morning.
Authorities said the victims included two schoolboys aged 12 and 15, the 49-year-old minivan driver, and a 27-year-old female chaperone. Five other students were seriously injured and taken to hospital.
Images from the scene showed the heavily damaged white minivan overturned beside the railway tracks after the impact.
Police spokesperson An Berger said the crossing barriers were functioning and had been lowered at the time of the crash. Investigators are now trying to determine how the vehicle entered the tracks despite the safety systems being active.
The train involved in the accident was carrying around 100 passengers, though officials said no major injuries were reported among those onboard.
The local prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the crash. Authorities confirmed that the train driver tested negative for alcohol and drugs, while an autopsy will be conducted on the minivan driver.
Buggenhout Mayor Geert Hermans expressed condolences to the victims’ families and announced that books of condolence would be opened for the community.
Local transport operator De Lijn said the minivan had no known mechanical problems and that the driver was medically fit, properly trained and had a clean professional record.
A colleague of the driver described the incident as a tragic accident, saying such situations can happen unexpectedly even to experienced drivers.
Residents living near the crossing said they heard a loud crash before emergency crews rushed to the area. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as first responders and bystanders attempted to help the victims.
One local resident said the crossing is known for heavy traffic during morning hours, with several roads meeting near the railway line.
