Car Plunges into Brussels Tunnel; Driver Escapes Injured After Bridge Fall

A car fell from a bridge into the Kruidtuintunnel (Botanical Garden Tunnel) in Brussels in the early hours of Tuesday morning, leaving the driver injured but able to escape the wreckage on his own. The accident triggered severe traffic disruptions across the Belgian capital as both the Kruidtuintunnel and the adjacent Rogiertunnel were closed for hours during the morning rush hour.

According to VRT NWS, the incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning on the Bischoffsheimlaan bridge, which passes over the Kruidtuintunnel on Brussels’ inner ring road. The vehicle plunged into the tunnel below, landing on its side and blocking the roadway. A section of the bridge railing was found missing at the point where the car went through.

Driver Escapes on Own Power

“The driver got out of the car under their own power,” Walter Derieuw, spokesperson for the Brussels fire brigade, told BRUZZ. The male driver was transported to hospital for treatment. His identity and current condition have not been publicly disclosed.

The exact circumstances of the accident remain unclear, and authorities have launched an investigation. HLN reported that regional journalist Laura Wellens noted the cause is still unknown.

Major Traffic Disruption

The accident forced the closure of both the Kruidtuintunnel and the Rogiertunnel in the direction of Brussels-South Station (Zuidstation), creating a major bottleneck on the Small Ring (R20) during the morning commute. Waiting times reached up to two hours from the Keizer Karellaan area, with severe congestion extending through the Annie Cordytunnel and from the Basiliek to Rogier.

Brussels Mobility confirmed that both tunnels were fully reopened by the end of the morning rush, according to the Brussels-Capital/Ixelles police. By that time, however, the morning rush hour had already been severely impacted.

Renewed Safety Concerns

The incident has drawn attention to the condition of the bridge’s safety barriers — and to a history of unresolved concerns. In August 2021, the mayor of Sint-Joost-ten-Node threatened to close the Kruidtuintunnel after inspections revealed that the balustrades on both sides of the bridge were “completely loose” and at risk of falling onto vehicles below. As VRT NWS reported at the time, a detailed report confirmed a serious structural issue, and the municipality sent an official demand for repairs to Brussels Mobility.

BRUZZ also covered the 2021 warnings, noting that a passerby had reported a piece of concrete falling into the tunnel, prompting the fire brigade to remove loose debris. Brussels Mobility responded at the time by tightening some balustrade mounting points, stating there was no acute danger.

Whether those repairs were sufficient — and whether a railing failure contributed to Tuesday’s accident — are questions investigators are likely to examine.

A History of Incidents

The Kruidtuintunnel has been the site of multiple disruptions in recent years. In January 2026, a large truck got stuck in the tunnel, causing significant traffic disruption during the evening rush hour, as BRUZZ reported. A car fire near the tunnel entrance occurred in November 2023, and another accident forced the closure of both the Rogier and Kruidtuintunnels in January 2024.

What’s Next

As authorities investigate the cause of Tuesday’s accident, questions remain about the maintenance and inspection regime for the Kruidtuintunnel’s bridge infrastructure. The missing section of railing at the Bischoffsheimlaan bridge will likely be a focal point of the inquiry, particularly given the warnings raised nearly five years ago. Brussels Mobility has not yet commented on whether additional safety measures will be implemented in response to the incident.