World
Two Children, Two Adults Killed as School Minibus Hits Train at Belgian Level Crossing despite Lowered Barriers
📅 May 26, 2026 06:40 ET
⏱ 2 min
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GazetaDay Editorial
A collision between a passenger train and a school minibus in Buggenhout, Belgium, killed two schoolchildren and two adults on Tuesday, according to federal police. The crash occurred shortly after 08:00 local time (06:00 GMT) at a level crossing where barriers were already down, mobility minister Jean-Luc Crucke confirmed.
Crash Details and Victim Information
The minibus was carrying seven children, a driver, and a chaperone when it struck a train traveling through Buggenhout, a small town near Aalst, northwest of Brussels. "The bus was on its way to a special education school. It concerns mainly secondary school children," said federal police spokeswoman An Berger. None of the train passengers were physically injured, though one person received treatment for shock, Berger added.
Official Statements and Investigation
"My first thoughts are with the victims," said mobility minister Jean-Luc Crucke, who confirmed reports that the level crossing barriers had been lowered before the impact. Berger told Belgian television that the minibus driver had been driving on a street parallel to the railway and then turned left onto the crossing while the barrier was already down. Flemish education minister Zuhal Demir posted on social media: "What heartbreaking news. My thoughts are with all the victims, their families and everyone closely involved." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: "Today, Europe grieves with Belgium."
Context
The incident is the latest in a series of level crossing accidents in Belgium, where drivers occasionally bypass lowered barriers despite safety warnings. Similar cases include a 2020 collision in Ghent that killed two people when a car ignored warning signals, and a 2018 crash in Kortrijk involving a school bus that resulted in minor injuries.
Belgiumschool minibustrain collisionlevel crossingBuggenhoutfatal crashspecial education school