Motorcyclist Crashes into Terrace After Wheelie in Kortrijk

A motorcyclist performing a wheelie on the Grote Markt in Kortrijk, Belgium, lost control on Saturday evening and crashed into the terrace of a crowded cafe, injuring four people. Two terrace patrons sustained serious injuries but are now in stable condition, according to VRT NWS.

The incident occurred on the evening of June 20, a warm summer Saturday when the square’s outdoor terraces were full of patrons. Three motorcyclists were riding from Onze-Lieve-Vrouwstraat toward the Grote Markt when the lead rider attempted a wheelie — riding on the rear wheel alone — and lost control.

How the Crash Unfolded

According to witness accounts, the rider put his front wheel back down but could not complete the turn. “His rear wheel got stuck in the gutter and he just plowed through,” one terrace patron told VRT NWS. Another witness described the scene as surreal: “It was unbelievable. In 2 or 3 seconds the accident had happened.”

The motorcycle crashed into the terrace of eetcafé l’Amitié, a popular dining spot on the corner of the square. One victim took the full weight of the motorcycle and was in particularly bad shape, witnesses reported. In total, two terrace patrons were seriously injured, one sustained minor injuries, and the motorcyclist himself suffered minor injuries. All four were expected to be discharged from hospital on Sunday morning.

No Alcohol or Drugs Involved

The rider tested negative on both a breathalyzer and a saliva drug test, the Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed. As a result, he was not arrested. However, his driver’s license was confiscated for 15 days, and he will face charges for traffic violations and unintentional assault and battery before the police court, likely resulting in a fine and driving ban.

The “Patserkooi” — Kortrijk’s Show-Off Cage

All three motorcycles involved in the incident were seized by police and placed in Kortrijk’s infamous “patserkooi” (show-off cage) — a secure impound facility for vehicles confiscated due to reckless driving. The offending rider’s motorcycle was declared a total loss.

Kortrijk became the first city in Flanders to introduce the patserkooi in August 2023. Located in the underground Veemarkt parking garage, the facility can hold up to eight vehicles and is equipped with surveillance cameras feeding live footage to the police station. As of September 2025, 37 vehicles had been impounded, with no repeat offenders recorded after release.

Police Chief Devid Camerlynck of Zone VLAS has described administrative seizures as “an important tool” that often has a greater deterrent impact than the fines that follow. The towing and storage costs are borne entirely by the offender.

Mayor’s Response

Mayor Ruth Vandenberghe (TBSK) visited the scene and expressed her shock. “It was a beautiful day with warm weather. People were sitting comfortably having a drink and the terraces were full,” she said. “Children were also playing there — what if they had been involved in the accident?”

Security camera footage from the Grote Markt is being reviewed to reconstruct the motorcycle’s trajectory and determine the exact sequence of events. A traffic expert was dispatched to the scene on Saturday night.

Broader Context

The incident highlights the dangers of reckless driving in crowded urban spaces and serves as a high-profile test case for Kortrijk’s zero-tolerance approach to antisocial driving behavior. Witnesses reported that two of the riders were filming the stunts with helmet-mounted dashcams, suggesting a possible social media motivation — a trend that has drawn increasing concern from safety authorities.

Kortrijk has positioned itself as a pioneer in tackling reckless driving, with measures including a zero-tolerance policy for non-permitted drift meetings introduced in February 2025, alongside broader anti-hooligan initiatives such as location bans and alcohol restrictions in public spaces.

What’s Next

The rider is expected to appear before the police court to face charges. The two other motorcyclists, whose vehicles were also seized, may face scrutiny for their role in filming and potentially encouraging the stunt. Meanwhile, the city’s patserkooi policy — now approaching its third year — has demonstrated its operational effectiveness in responding to dangerous driving incidents with immediate consequences.