Bus Attendant Killed in School Bus-Truck Collision in Vrasene
A 57-year-old bus attendant was killed on Tuesday afternoon when a school bus collided with a truck at an intersection in Vrasene, a sub-municipality of Beveren-Kruibeke-Zwijndrecht in East Flanders, Belgium. The accident occurred in the late afternoon near the E34 highway, shortly after the bus had completed its school transport route and dropped off all children.
According to VRT NWS, the small school bus was struck on its side by a truck as it entered the intersection of the Hogewatergangweg and the Provinciale Baan. The bus attendant, a 57-year-old woman whose name has not been publicly released pending family notification, died at the scene.
The Incident
The school bus had just finished its afternoon route, dropping off the last children before heading back when the collision occurred. TV Oost reported that the accident happened at the bridge over the E34 highway, with the last school children having just left the bus moments earlier.
At the time of the crash, the bus carried only the driver and the attendant. The bus driver sustained light injuries, while the truck driver was unharmed. Emergency services arrived promptly at the scene.
Investigation and Preliminary Findings
The public prosecutor’s office (parket) immediately appointed a traffic expert to investigate the exact circumstances of the crash. According to preliminary findings from the expert, the accident was caused by inattention on the part of the school bus driver.
“An inattention on the part of the school bus driver would have led to the accident,” VRT NWS reported, citing the preliminary findings.
The bus driver tested negative for alcohol and drugs. However, as a standard precautionary measure following a fatal accident, his driver’s license was temporarily suspended pending the outcome of the full investigation.
Context and Implications
Vrasene is a sub-municipality of Beveren-Kruibeke-Zwijndrecht, a fusion municipality created in January 2025 from the merger of the former municipalities of Beveren, Kruibeke, and Zwijndrecht. The area is located in the Waasland region of East Flanders, near the Belgian-Dutch border.
Fatal accidents involving school buses are relatively rare in Belgium. Bus attendants, known locally as busbegeleiders, are employed to supervise children during school transport routes, ensuring safety and proper behavior — a role that is particularly important for younger children and those with special needs.
The fact that all children had already been dropped off before the collision is a detail that prevented an even greater tragedy. The school community, including the children who had been on the bus earlier in the route, may require psychological support after learning of the fatal accident involving their attendant.
Legal Procedures
Under Belgian traffic law, when a fatal accident occurs, the public prosecutor’s office typically appoints an independent traffic expert to investigate. The expert examines the scene, vehicles, and circumstances to determine the precise cause. Preliminary findings can lead to immediate administrative measures — such as the license suspension seen here — even before a full judicial process is completed.
The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities have not yet released further details about the specific nature of the alleged inattention, such as whether it involved distraction, failure to yield, or running a red light. The truck driver is expected to be interviewed as a witness.
What’s Next
The appointed traffic expert will continue investigating the crash, with a full report expected in the coming weeks. Depending on the findings, the bus driver could face criminal charges. The name of the deceased bus attendant is expected to be released once all family members have been notified.
This tragic incident serves as a sobering reminder of the vulnerability of smaller vehicles at intersections when interacting with heavy trucks — and of the dedicated professionals who work to keep children safe during their daily commutes.