Belgium confirms level crossing barriers were down before fatal school bus collision

At least four people were killed and two others severely injured on Tuesday morning when a train collided with a school minibus at a level crossing near Buggenhout, approximately 23 kilometres from Brussels. The victims included two children aged 12 and 15, the minibus driver, and an adult supervisor accompanying the seven children on board.

Belgian Transport Minister Jean-Luc Crucke confirmed that security cameras recorded the crossing’s barriers lowering before the impact. This assessment was corroborated by Infrabel, the federal railway infrastructure operator responsible for the national network. The operator stated that the train involved was scheduled to stop at the next station, located roughly one kilometre away, at the time of the collision.

Infrabel spokesman Frederic Sacre described the mechanics of the crash to the AFP news agency, noting the incident occurred at approximately 08:08 local time. He stated the minibus was thrown approximately 15 metres into a metal pylon following the strike, describing the impact as extremely violent and the resulting toll as dramatic.

The political response to the disaster has been immediate. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen issued a statement expressing that she was heartbroken by the news, adding that Europe grieves with Belgium. Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin also released a statement on X, expressing deep sadness and directing thoughts to the victims and their families.

This incident occurs against a backdrop of ongoing scrutiny regarding Belgium’s dense railway network, which has experienced several level crossing accidents in recent years. According to Infrabel data, five people were killed in similar accidents last year, marking the lowest annual figure recorded since 2020. The exact cause of the collision, whether involving driver error or mechanical failure, has not yet been determined.