Train crashes into school minibus in Belgium, causing casualties
Belgian police (photo: facebook.com/BelgianFederalPolice)
On Tuesday, May 26, a train collided with a school minibus in Belgium. Local media report injuries and fatalities, CBS News reports.
It is reported that at the time of the accident at the railway crossing, there were seven children and a teacher on the bus in addition to the driver.
"I learnt of the tragic accident in Buggenhout, where a school bus was struck by a train. My thoughts go out to the victims and their loved ones. I wish the injured much strength," Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin said.
A spokesman for the Belgian rail network operator, Frederic Sacre, stated that "the impact was extremely violent" and described the number of victims as "dramatic."
"It happened at around 8:08 am when a minibus was struck by a train that was due to stop at the next station, which was about a kilometer away," he said.
Local media explained that the minibus drove from a street parallel to the railway track and turned left, crossing the rails. How exactly the accident happened is still unknown, since the crossing barrier was lowered.
Thomas Baeken, a representative of the Belgian railway operator Infrabel, said that video footage showed the barriers were lowered, and the traffic lights were red, adding that police and prosecutors would have to determine how the accident could have happened under those circumstances.
Police said they could not yet provide details about the victims because the families of those who were in the minibus must be informed first.
