Cyclist Killed in Mortsel Truck Crash Near Workplace

A 54-year-old woman cycling to work was killed Wednesday morning in Mortsel, Antwerp province, after being struck by a truck at an intersection that had been flagged as dangerous for nearly a decade. The accident occurred just meters from her workplace at the Immaculata residential care center, and the truck driver was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

The Accident

The collision happened in the early morning at the intersection of Molenlei and Oude Godstraat, on the border between Mortsel and Edegem. According to VRT NWS, the truck driver was waiting at the crossing and had just let one cyclist pass before beginning to turn right. As the truck moved, the woman attempted to cross and was struck. She died at the scene.

Kim Verdoodt, spokesperson for Politiezone Minos, told reporters that the truck and bicycle came from the same direction, making it “probably a blind spot accident.” A traffic expert has been assigned to investigate the exact circumstances.

The driver, who tested negative for alcohol and drugs, was in shock and taken to hospital. He was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter (“schuldig aan doodslag”).

A Known Dangerous Intersection

The intersection where the tragedy occurred had been identified as hazardous years earlier. A 2016 “Fietsbarometer” (Cycling Barometer) report by the Mortsel Environmental Council specifically flagged the crossing as problematic, noting that cars must drive onto the bicycle path before gaining visibility of the priority road, creating dangerous conditions for cyclists.

Local residents described the intersection as “very dangerous” and expressed surprise that accidents did not occur more frequently, as HLN reported.

Tragic Timing

In a cruel twist of fate, the municipalities of Mortsel and Edegem had held a joint information session on Tuesday evening — just hours before the crash — to present residents with long-awaited redevelopment plans for the Oude Godstraat. The full overhaul was scheduled for 2028.

Mortsel Mayor Michiel Hubeau (Groen) expressed his devastation: “We know it’s a difficult traffic situation there. Fate would have it that we organized an information evening just last night to present the plans to local residents. But this morning we were overtaken by the harsh reality.”

Edegem Mayor Koen Metsu (N-VA) echoed the sentiment, telling HLN that “this is one of the most terrible things you can experience. Someone who left home in the morning to go to work and doesn’t return… As mayor you are also just a human being. When you hear something like this in the morning, time stands still for a moment.”

Community and Policy Response

The victim, a mother of two, was employed at the Immaculata residential care center located just meters from the crash site. Her death has deeply shaken both the Mortsel and Edegem communities.

Both mayors have committed to exploring whether safety improvements — particularly regarding crossing points and road markings — can be implemented well ahead of the full 2028 redevelopment. “The plans are there and we are going to speed things up,” Metsu said.

Broader Context

Blind spot accidents involving trucks remain a persistent cycling safety concern in Belgium. A similar fatal incident occurred in Etterbeek, Brussels, in September 2025, where a 48-year-old cyclist was killed. Cycling advocacy groups continue to call for better infrastructure separating cyclists from heavy vehicles, particularly at intersections.

The 12-year gap between the 2016 identification of this intersection as dangerous and the planned 2028 redevelopment highlights broader challenges in infrastructure prioritization and road safety policy in Belgium.

What’s Next

A traffic expert investigation is ongoing to determine the exact cause of the collision and whether the driver could have reasonably seen the cyclist. The outcome will inform potential criminal charges beyond the initial manslaughter arrest. Meanwhile, residents and local officials are pressing for immediate interim safety measures at the intersection, even as the longer-term redevelopment plans move forward.