Brasschaat Crash: Unlicensed Teen Driver Kills Passenger
A 16-year-old boy has died and four other teenagers remain hospitalized after a catastrophic car crash in Brasschaat, a wealthy municipality north of Antwerp, Belgium. The 17-year-old driver, who had no valid driver’s license and did not have permission to use the vehicle, was traveling at approximately 100 km/h in a 50 km/h zone when he lost control, according to VRT NWS.
The Crash
The accident occurred shortly before midnight on Friday, May 15, on the Sionkloosterlaan, a residential road in a quiet neighborhood. The car, carrying five teenagers aged 14 to 17 who were returning from a party, first struck a tree with its right flank before crashing head-on into a second tree.
“The vehicle first hit a tree on the side of the road with its right flank and then crashed head-on into another tree,” explained Lieselot Claessens, spokesperson for the Antwerp Public Prosecutor’s Office, as reported by VRT NWS.
A 16-year-old boy seated in the back died at the scene. The 17-year-old driver remains in life-threatening condition, while a 14-year-old passenger has seen his condition deteriorate and is now in critical condition, according to a follow-up report from VRT NWS. Two other passengers — a 16-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl — were seriously injured but are now stable.
Multiple Risk Factors
Investigators have identified several contributing factors. The driver, aged 17, did not possess a valid driver’s license and had not obtained permission to use the vehicle. He was driving at double the permitted speed — approximately 100 km/h in a 50 km/h zone. A blood sample has been taken to test for alcohol or drugs, with results expected the week of May 18.
Authorities are also investigating whether the occupants were wearing seatbelts. The owner of the vehicle has not yet been identified. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.
NNieuws confirmed the details, reporting that all five occupants were a close-knit group of friends from Brasschaat.
Community in Mourning
The accident has deeply shaken the Brasschaat community. Flowers have been laid at the crash site, and Federal Minister Jan Jambon (N-VA), a Brasschaat resident who personally knows the families involved, visited the scene.
“This hits everyone hard. It’s truly terrible that something like this has happened. The young people and their families will be marked for life,” Jambon said, according to VRT NWS.
Acting Mayor Adinda Van Gerven (N-VA) noted that the local community is profoundly affected by the tragedy.
A Broader Problem
The crash has highlighted a systemic issue in Belgian road safety. According to VIAS, the Belgian Road Safety Institute, approximately 60 accidents per year in Belgium involve a minor as the driver — more than one per week. VIAS notes that young people often struggle with risk assessment, contributing to these statistics.
In 2025, 445 people died in traffic in Belgium, the lowest number ever recorded. However, the province of Antwerp continues to have among the highest rates of traffic casualties per kilometer of road in the country.
What’s Next
If the driver survives, he faces serious legal consequences, including potential charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless driving causing death and injury, driving without a license, and driving without the owner’s permission. DUI charges may also follow pending blood test results.
The case has renewed calls for stronger enforcement of driving laws and better education on risk assessment for young people. The blood test results, expected in the coming week, will provide further clarity on the circumstances of this tragic accident.