Four people killed in Belgium in train and school bus collision

A school minibus collided with a train at a level crossing near Buggenhout in Flanders, northern Belgium. Four people were killed, including two children, the bus driver, and an adult accompanying the children. Five children were injured and taken to hospital with serious injuries, reported to be in stable condition. The crash occurred just after 8am when the minivan attempted to cross despite lowered barriers and a flashing red light. The train driver applied emergency brakes but could not avoid the collision. The bus was overturned and was reportedly thrown into the driveway of a house due to the impact force. Police and the public prosecutor’s office are investigating how the accident happened.

"Belgium's transport minister, Jean-Luc Crucke, told RTL TV that two young people, the bus driver and an adult accompanying the children had lost their lives. My first thoughts are with the victims, but also those people who are injured and their families, he said. The other five passengers in the bus, all children, were taken to hospital with serious injuries and were said to be in stable condition."

"The crash happened just after 8am on Tuesday when a school minivan collided with a train travelling from Bruges to Buggenhout, about 14 miles (22km) north of Brussels. The bus was reported to have attempted to cross the level crossing, despite lowered barriers and a flashing red light. On seeing the van, the train driver applied the emergency brakes but was unable to avoid the collision."

"A spokesperson for the rail network operator Infrabel told the Flemish public broadcaster VRT: We do not know how the accident could have happened. That is for the police and the public prosecutor's office to investigate. A spokesperson for the public prosecutor told reporters the four victims were two children aged 15 and 12, their 27-year-old chaperone and the driver of the van, who was 49."

"TV footage showed the crumpled white minivan overturned on its side at the crossing, with ambulances and a helicopter under cloudless blue skies. Such was the force of the impact that the bus was catapulted into the driveway of a house, according to a VRT reporter at the scene. The children were on their way to a special educational needs school in the town."

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