Flanders Crash: School Bus Escort Dies, Inattention Probed
A 57-year-old school bus escort has died in a tragic road accident in Vrasene, East Flanders, after a truck violently collided with the minibus she was travelling in. The accident occurred on Tuesday evening, May 19, after the school run had been completed and no children were on board. Preliminary findings from a court-appointed expert suggest that driver inattention by the school bus driver may have caused the collision.
The Incident
The crash took place at the intersection of Hogewatergangweg and Provinciale Baan (Duikeldam), near the E34 highway access ramp in Vrasene, a sub-municipality of Beveren-Kruibeke-Zwijndrecht. According to DH Les Sports, the school minibus had just dropped off the last four children and was carrying only the driver and the escort when it entered the intersection and was struck on the side by a truck. The impact caused the minibus to overturn.
The Belga news agency reported that the 57-year-old escort did not survive the collision. The bus driver sustained minor injuries, while the truck driver was unharmed but in a state of shock.
Investigation and Preliminary Findings
The public prosecutor’s office of East Flanders appointed a traffic accident expert who visited the scene. According to VRT NWS, the initial findings indicate that the accident was caused by inattention on the part of the school bus driver. The driver was tested for alcohol and drugs, with both tests returning negative results. However, his driving license was provisionally suspended, which is standard procedure in fatal accident investigations in Belgium.
7sur7 reported that the driver may have misjudged the speed of the oncoming truck as he entered the intersection. The investigation remains ongoing, and further details about the precise circumstances are expected to emerge from the expert’s full report.
Community Reaction
Mayor Marc Van de Vijver of Beveren-Kruibeke-Zwijndrecht expressed his condolences in an interview with VRT. “The children had already been dropped off, but unfortunately, the educator lost her life,” he said. “They tried to resuscitate her, but in vain.” The mayor’s remarks underscored the poignant nature of the tragedy: the escort had just safely delivered the children home before losing her own life.
Traffic Disruption
The accident caused significant traffic disruption in the area. The road was closed in both directions, leading to major congestion, particularly on the nearby E34 highway, a major arterial route connecting Antwerp to the Belgian coast.
Broader Context
School transport safety remains a significant concern in Belgium. While accidents involving school buses are relatively rare, they attract considerable public attention. The fact that no children were on board at the time of this crash was widely noted as a fortunate circumstance in an otherwise tragic event.
The victim’s name has not been publicly released pending notification of next of kin. The bus driver could face further legal consequences, including potential charges of involuntary manslaughter, depending on the final expert report.
What’s Next
The investigation by the court-appointed traffic expert will continue, with a full report expected in the coming weeks. Depending on its conclusions, the public prosecutor will determine whether criminal charges are warranted. The incident may also prompt a review of school transport safety protocols in the municipality and beyond.
Reporting based on information from DH Les Sports, Belga News Agency, VRT NWS, 7sur7, and L’Avenir.