Belgian Teen Girls Seriously Injured in Dutch Highway Crash
Two Belgian teenage girls were seriously injured on Sunday evening when the car they were travelling in left the A50 motorway near Uden in the Netherlands, flipped over, and landed upside down in a ditch. The vehicle was carrying seven members of the same Belgian family, according to VRT NWS.
The Incident
The accident occurred on Sunday afternoon on the A50 towards Eindhoven, in the province of North Brabant. According to Dutch emergency services, the car left the road for as-yet-unknown reasons, rolled over, and came to rest in a ditch alongside the motorway. No other vehicles were involved in the single-vehicle crash.
Police Oost-Brabant confirmed on X that two minor girls were seriously injured in the collision. The police unit stated: “In a collision on the A50 near Uden, two minor girls were seriously injured this evening. They were in a car that flipped over in the late afternoon for as-yet-unknown reasons. No other vehicles were involved in the accident.”
All seven occupants of the vehicle were from Belgium. Dutch media reported that the seriously injured girls are aged 14 and 16, though police initially only confirmed they were minors. According to Omroep Brabant, the family included a 5-month-old baby, three girls aged 2, 9, and 16, two women aged 19 and 42, and a 38-year-old man.
Emergency Response
A large emergency response was deployed to the scene, including multiple ambulances, fire brigade units, and trauma helicopters. The severity of the situation prompted the closure of the A50 towards Eindhoven while emergency services and forensic investigators worked at the scene. One lane was reopened later that evening, according to NU.nl.
All seven occupants sustained injuries, with the two teenage girls being the most seriously affected. They were rushed to hospital with severe injuries. A police spokesperson told Hart van Nederland that the two girls were transported to hospital with urgency.
Investigation Underway
Police are continuing their investigation into the cause of the accident. The exact circumstances that led the car to leave the road remain unknown. RTL Nieuws noted that it is unclear why seven people were travelling in the seemingly small passenger car.
The accident drew significant attention at the scene, with belongings scattered in the roadside verge after being thrown from the vehicle. Traffic was diverted via Den Bosch over the A59 and A2 motorways during the closure.
Cross-Border Implications
The incident highlights the close ties between Belgium and the Netherlands, where cross-border travel is common. The A50 is a frequently used route for Belgian travellers heading to the northern Netherlands or Germany. The accident occurred on a Sunday afternoon, a time when many families are returning from day trips or weekend excursions.
What’s Next
Police Oost-Brabant confirmed they are continuing their investigation into the exact circumstances of the crash. The condition of the two seriously injured teenage girls and the other five family members, including the 5-month-old baby and 2-year-old child, has not been publicly disclosed. Authorities have not indicated whether any charges or further actions are anticipated as the investigation progresses.
As Reformatorisch Dagblad reported, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of single-vehicle accidents on Dutch motorways and the importance of road safety, particularly when multiple occupants are travelling in a single vehicle.