Cyclist Critically Injured in Wielsbeke Van Collision
A 51-year-old female cyclist is in life-threatening condition after being struck by a van on the N382 (Expresweg) in Wielsbeke, West Flanders, on Tuesday morning. The incident occurred shortly before 8:00 AM at a cyclist crossing point that local officials have long identified as dangerously unsafe, according to Het Laatste Nieuws.
The Incident
The cyclist, a resident of Ooigem, a sub-municipality of Wielsbeke, was riding an electric bicycle and came from the Molenstraat, intending to cross the expressway to reach the cycle path on the opposite side. The crossing point sits halfway along a long straight stretch of road between the roundabouts with the Stationsstraat and the Ridder de Ghellinckstraat.
The 25-year-old van driver honked his horn in an attempt to warn the cyclist but could not avoid the collision. The impact threw the woman several dozen meters, and she was found unconscious at the scene. She was transported in critical condition to AZ Groeninge hospital in Kortrijk, as VRT NWS reported.
The driver, who remained uninjured but was in shock, managed to steer his van away from a lighting pole and brought the vehicle to a safe stop on the cycle path. He passed a negative breathalyzer test, confirming he was not under the influence of alcohol.
A Known Danger Point
The location of the accident has been a source of concern for years. Acting mayor Jan De Potter (Samen+), who came to the scene, told Focus WTV: “This is a dangerous point for cyclists. That’s why we have long been asking for a bicycle tunnel.”
The Flemish Agency for Roads and Traffic (AWV) had already flagged the crossing as unsafe in May 2024, noting that cyclists had to cross two traffic lanes simultaneously at the existing location. As part of roadworks on the N382, the AWV announced that the crossing would be relocated closer to the roundabout, where cyclists would only need to cross one lane at a time.
According to Het Nieuws van West-Vlaanderen, those works were completed in July 2024. However, Tuesday’s accident occurred at the crossing point halfway along the straight stretch, suggesting the hazardous configuration may persist at this location.
Long-Standing Calls for a Bicycle Tunnel
Local politicians have been advocating for a bicycle tunnel (fietstunnel) under the Expresweg at the Molenstraat level since at least 2021. A cooperation agreement between the municipality of Wielsbeke and the AWV was approved in February 2024, bringing the project a step closer, as KW.be reported.
The AWV would fund the tunnel’s construction, while the municipality would cover the cost of connecting existing cycle paths. Initially announced for 2023 and later postponed to a presumed 2025 start, the tunnel had still not been constructed as of the accident date. The local political party samen+ detailed the project in February 2024, noting that the exact timing for the start of works remained uncertain.
Investigation and Aftermath
A traffic expert from the public prosecutor’s office was dispatched to the scene for the necessary findings. According to initial assessments, the cyclist should have yielded right of way. Investigators suggest she may not have noticed the approaching van due to the bright morning sunlight, as KW.be reported.
The N382 was closed for several hours between the roundabout at Agristo and the roundabout with the Ooigemstraat and Stationsstraat while emergency services and investigators worked at the scene. The speed limit at the location is 70 km/h, which contributed to the severity of the impact.
Hours after the accident, the woman remained in life-threatening condition, according to the public prosecutor’s office via Belga/MSN.
What to Watch For
The victim’s condition remains critical, and the investigation into the precise circumstances of the collision is ongoing. The incident has reignited calls from local officials for the long-promised bicycle tunnel, which has been delayed for years despite repeated safety concerns at this crossing point. Whether Tuesday’s accident accelerates the project’s timeline remains an open question for the community of Wielsbeke.