Mother Seriously Injured After Cargo Bike Crash in Mortsel
A 35-year-old mother was seriously injured on Tuesday morning when a reversing pick-up truck struck her cargo bike (bakfiets) on the Mechelsesteenweg in Mortsel, Antwerp province. Her two young children, aged 2 and 4, who were riding in the cargo bike at the time of the collision, escaped unharmed.
The Incident
The accident occurred near the Q8 petrol station on the Mechelsesteenweg, a major road connecting Antwerp to Mechelen. According to Het Laatste Nieuws, the mother was attempting to cross the road with her cargo bike when a pick-up truck began reversing during a parking maneuver.
Police spokesperson Bart Maes of Politiezone Minos confirmed the details of the incident. “A woman with a cargo bike, carrying two children aged 2 and 4, wanted to cross the road there. At that moment, a pick-up truck was reversing during a parking maneuver,” Maes said. “There was a collision and the woman unfortunately landed on her head on the asphalt.”
The mother was initially transported to UZA (University Hospital Antwerp) in life-threatening condition. However, VRT NWS later reported that the life-threatening danger had subsided. The driver of the pick-up truck did not notice the woman and struck her during the reversing maneuver.
Dangerous Location
The Mechelsesteenweg in Mortsel has a reputation as a hazardous stretch of road for cyclists. According to local reports, cyclists frequently pass through the area at high speeds, and accidents have occurred there previously. The intersection near the Q8 petrol station, where Tuesday’s collision took place, has been identified as a particularly dangerous spot.
Children Unharmed
Remarkably, given the severity of the collision, both children in the cargo bike emerged without physical injuries. “The two children are unharmed,” Maes confirmed. A witness who drove past shortly after the incident described the scene as deeply distressing. “I drove past just after it happened and immediately saw it was bad. I’m still shaken by it,” the witness told HLN. “Hopefully the mother recovers well and quickly.”
Broader Context
The accident comes amid heightened awareness of cyclist safety in Belgium. According to the Vias institute’s 2024 traffic safety report, cyclists accounted for 30% of traffic fatalities in Flanders last year. The Flemish government has been implementing its ‘All For Zero’ strategy, which aims to eliminate traffic deaths entirely.
Cargo bikes (bakfietsen) have become increasingly popular among Belgian families for school runs and daily errands, particularly in Flemish cities and suburbs. However, safety concerns persist regarding the visibility of cargo bikes in mixed traffic and the vulnerability of their occupants — especially children — in collisions with motor vehicles.
What’s Next
The mother’s current medical condition and expected recovery timeline remain unknown. No information has been released regarding potential charges against the pick-up truck driver, and the municipality of Mortsel has not yet issued a statement concerning road safety measures at the accident site. The incident is likely to renew calls for improved cycling infrastructure on the Mechelsesteenweg and other high-risk roads in the Antwerp region.