Buggenhout Tragedy: Four Dead After School Minibus Hits Train at Belgian Level Crossing
Last update: May 26, 2026
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A routine school run turned devastating in Belgium this morning after a minibus collided with a train, leaving four dead and a community in shock.
Tragic news coming out of northern Belgium today, as reported by cbinews.tv. Four people have lost their lives after a school minibus was hit by a train in the small town of Buggenhout.
The crash happened just after 08:00 local time (06:00 GMT). On board were seven children, a 49-year-old driver, and a 27-year-old chaperone. They were on their way to a special education school when it all went horribly wrong.
Federal police spokeswoman An Berger explained that the minibus had been travelling along a road parallel to the railway line. The driver then turned left onto the level crossing — despite the barrier already being down. At that exact moment, a train came through Buggenhout at around 90km/h (55mph).
Belgian mobility minister Jean-Luc Crucke confirmed that the level crossing barriers were indeed down when the collision occurred. Thomas Baeken from Infrabel, Belgium’s rail network, added that early CCTV footage shows the lights were red too. "How this accident could have happened, we don't know," he told VRT. "That is for the police and the public prosecutor's office to investigate."
The impact was brutal. The minibus struck a pole and was thrown into the driveway of a nearby house. Two children, aged 12 and 15, plus the driver and chaperone, were killed. The five other children on board are in hospital in a critical but stable condition, according to the public prosecutor's spokeswoman.
Nobody on the train was hurt, though one person is being treated for shock. The train was actually slowing down as it approached Buggenhout station when the crash happened, Baeken said.
Reaction has been pouring in. Flemish education minister Zuhal Demir posted: "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." Buggenhout mayor Geert Hermans ended a press conference with a minute's silence for the victims.
Flemish minister Annick De Ridder told Belgian TV it was "terrible news" but too early to talk about who might be responsible. A full investigation is now underway.
Source: cbinews.tv
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