Four Dead in Belgium Train-School Bus Crash

​BUGGENHOUT, Belgium — A pristine spring morning turned into a scene of utter devastation on Tuesday after a high-speed commuter train slammed into a school minibus at a level crossing, killing four people—including two young students—and leaving five others severely injured.

​The catastrophic collision occurred at exactly 8:08 a.m. local time at the Vierhuizen railway crossing in Buggenhout, a Dutch-speaking municipality situated roughly 15 miles (25 kilometers) northwest of Brussels.

​According to tracking by the ValidViewNetwork, the minibus was transporting seven students to the nearby Richtpunt campus Buggenhout, a specialized secondary education facility for children with learning disabilities and special needs, located less than a mile from the crash site.

​A Violent Impact

​Authorities confirmed that the vehicle was struck by an oncoming commuter train traveling from Bruges at approximately 75 mph (120 km/h). Infrabel, the state railway infrastructure operator, reported that the train driver observed the vehicle and deployed the emergency braking system but was entirely unable to prevent the disaster.

​”The impact was extremely violent,” Infrabel spokesman Frédéric Sacré stated, detailing that the force of the collision catapulted the crumpled white vehicle roughly 15 meters (50 feet) into a roadside metal pylon and the driveway of a neighboring home.

​Lisa De Wilde, a spokeswoman for the public prosecutor’s office, confirmed that the fatalities include:

• ​A 12-year-old student

• ​A 15-year-old student

• ​The 49-year-old minibus driver
• ​A 27-year-old female chaperone

​The remaining five schoolchildren on board sustained serious injuries and were rushed to regional hospitals. Police spokeswoman An Berger later confirmed that while their injuries are critical, all five survivors have been stabilized and their lives are no longer considered to be in danger.

ADVERTISEMENT

​Barriers Were Lowered

​A formal investigation has been launched by the public prosecutor’s office to determine how the minibus ended up on the tracks. Preliminary evidence points heavily toward a tragic error.

​Footage recovered from nearby security cameras confirmed that the crossing’s automated safety barriers were completely lowered and the red warning lights were actively flashing when the vehicle entered the tracks.

​Local transport operator De Lijn noted that the minibus was operated through a subcontractor, adding that the driver was fully trained, medically fit, and had a clean driving record. The vehicle itself had no known mechanical issues prior to the crash.

​The train was carrying approximately 100 passengers at the time of the incident. While no physical injuries were reported on board, one passenger was treated at the scene for severe shock. The remaining passengers were safely evacuated to a local fire station, though regional rail services faced widespread cancellations throughout Tuesday.

​’A Pitch-Black Day’

​The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the local community and elicited deep grief from national and international leaders.

​”What could have been a beautiful spring morning suddenly turned into a pitch-black day,” said Kurt Moens, the East Flanders provincial deputy responsible for the school.

​Belgium’s Prime Minister, Bart De Wever, expressed his profound sorrow on social media, writing that he was “deeply moved by the horrific accident in Buggenhout.” Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prévot and Interior Minister Bernard Quintin echoed those condolences, praising the swift mobilization of emergency services.

​In Brussels, European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen released a statement expressing that she was “heartbroken” by the disaster, adding, “Today, Europe grieves with Belgium.”