Man Dies in Car Jack Accident in Beveren, Wife Finds Him
A 68-year-old man died Wednesday morning while working on his car in Beveren, East Flanders, after a car jack slipped and trapped him underneath the vehicle. His wife made the tragic discovery when she went to check on him and found him unresponsive, according to Het Laatste Nieuws.
The Incident
The accident occurred Wednesday morning at the back of a residence on Gentseweg (at Middenheide) in Beveren. The man had begun working on a car that morning when, according to initial findings, the jack slipped while he was lying underneath the vehicle.
“The accident happened around 10 AM at the back of a residence on Gentseweg in Beveren,” TV Oost reported. “This morning the victim had started working on a car, but it went horribly wrong.”
Emergency services were called immediately and rushed to the scene. Despite their rapid response and resuscitation attempts, the man could not be saved and was pronounced dead at the scene.
A Devastating Discovery
The man’s wife was the one who found him. When she went to check on him at a certain point, she made the terrible discovery of her husband unresponsive under the car. After the tragedy, she was taken care of and assisted by police at the scene.
The news hit the neighborhood like a bomb. Neighbors reacted with shock to the sudden death, describing the man as very well-liked in the area and always ready to lend a helping hand to others.
The circumstances surrounding the fatal accident remain under investigation.
A Known Safety Hazard
This tragic incident highlights a danger that is all too familiar to automotive experts. Working under a car supported only by a jack is extremely hazardous, and similar accidents have occurred across Belgium and the Netherlands in recent years.
According to RTL Editie NL, Joep Schuurman of Carrec Technocenter warns: “If you repair your car with a scissor jack—which is in every car—you really can’t just lie under it. You must secure the car by putting blocks under it. Additionally, the car must be level, and on the handbrake or in gear. Preferably both.”
Schuurman describes the grim reality of what happens when a jack fails: “If you remove the wheels and it falls off the jack, the car is even lower and you just get crushed. Your ribcage breaks and you suffocate.”
Safety Recommendations
Experts emphasize several critical safety measures for anyone working on a vehicle at home. Suzuki Belgium’s safety guide recommends:
- Use a jack with adequate capacity — The jack must have a maximum lifting capacity higher than half the weight of your car.
- Choose the right jack — A garage jack is significantly safer than a standard car jack for working under a vehicle.
- Ensure a level surface — The ground must be perfectly flat before jacking up a vehicle.
- Always set the handbrake — Never use a jack without first engaging the handbrake.
- Use designated jacking points — Each vehicle has specific jacking points that must be used to avoid frame damage.
- Always use axle stands — Additional support in the form of axle stands is essential, placed as close to the wheels as possible.
A Community in Mourning
As authorities continue their investigation into the circumstances of the accident, the Beveren community mourns the loss of a man remembered as kind and helpful. The victim’s name has not been publicly released.
The incident serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of DIY car maintenance. Even experienced mechanics can fall victim to equipment failure, and the consequences can be fatal. Experts consistently advise that anyone working under a vehicle should never rely on a jack alone—proper safety equipment and precautions are not optional.
For the family and neighbors of the victim, the tragedy is a profound loss. As one neighbor expressed it, the man was someone who was always there for others—a sentiment that will make his sudden passing all the more difficult to bear.