Third Pedestrian Hit by Police Van in Antwerp in One Year

A 23-year-old pedestrian was struck by a police van on a zebra crossing in Antwerp on Thursday morning, marking the third time in one year that a police vehicle has hit a pedestrian in the Belgian city. The victim was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Antwerp public prosecutor’s office.

The incident occurred at approximately 9:40 AM on the Jordaenskaai, near the historic Het Steen castle, as reported by Het Laatste Nieuws. The police van was responding to a report of suspicious activity—a man wearing a balaclava who may have stolen a bicycle—when the collision happened.

Circumstances of the Crash

The police van was traveling with its flashing lights activated but without its siren, a practice the prosecutor’s office describes as standard when approaching a suspect to avoid alerting them. According to VRT NWS, the van attempted to overtake a stationary truck on the left. The truck had stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross at the zebra crossing. The police van then struck the pedestrian.

Kato Belmans, spokesperson for the Antwerp Public Prosecutor’s Office, confirmed the details. “The police van was at that moment en route with flashing lights to a report of suspicious activity,” Belmans said. “According to initial information, it concerned a man with a balaclava who was acting suspiciously and may have stolen a bicycle.”

The victim, a 23-year-old man, was not the person the police van was responding to. He was injured and taken to hospital for treatment. He is not in life-threatening danger and will be questioned by investigators later.

The driver of the police van tested negative on both breathalyzer and saliva tests for alcohol and drugs after the accident. He will also be questioned as part of the ongoing investigation, which is being conducted by the highway police.

The collision caused additional traffic congestion on the quays, where roadworks had already slowed traffic. The roadway was cleared around 11:30 AM after the police vehicle was towed.

A Troubling Pattern

This incident is the third of its kind in Antwerp within one year. In May 2026, a 6-year-old boy was critically injured after being hit by a police vehicle on the Frankrijklei during a school outing. The boy was crossing a zebra crossing when a police car swerved from the bus lane onto the road. He was taken to hospital in critical condition but has since stabilized and is no longer in life-threatening danger.

In June 2025, 9-year-old Jidel died after being struck by a police van on the Provinciestraat in Antwerp. That incident sparked public outcry and raised serious questions about police driving practices and training standards. De Morgen noted that this is now the third such collision in one year.

Questions Over Police Driving Protocols

The recurring nature of these incidents has intensified scrutiny of police driving protocols in Antwerp. Key concerns include the use of sirens during priority responses, overtaking procedures at zebra crossings, and the adequacy of driver training.

In the current incident, the police van had flashing lights but no siren—a practice intended to avoid alerting suspects. However, this also means pedestrians and other road users may not hear the vehicle approaching. The balance between operational secrecy and public safety is at the center of the debate.

Following the death of 9-year-old Jidel, De Morgen published an analysis titled “Inadequate training of officers is really a problem,” questioning whether police driver training in Antwerp meets the demands of urban emergency response. The article highlighted concerns that officers may not receive sufficient training for the complex driving situations they face in dense city environments.

What’s Next

The highway police continue their investigation into the exact circumstances of Thursday’s collision. Both the victim and the driver will be questioned. The public prosecutor’s office has assigned a traffic expert to the case.

As this is the third police-involved pedestrian collision in Antwerp in one year, questions remain about whether any policy changes have been implemented since the previous incidents. City officials and the Antwerp police have yet to issue a formal statement addressing the pattern. The coming weeks may determine whether this latest incident prompts meaningful reform to police driving protocols and training requirements.