A catastrophic collision between a train and a bus at a level crossing in Veldegem, Belgium, on Friday morning was narrowly prevented from becoming a tragedy thanks to the swift actions of the bus driver.
Moments before a speeding train tore through the stalled single-decker bus, the driver managed to evacuate all 20 children aboard, ensuring no one was left inside when disaster struck.
The incident unfolded just four minutes after the bus broke down on the tracks.
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Despite the driver’s immediate efforts to alert authorities, Belgian rail operator Infrabel confirmed that the emergency call came too late to stop the oncoming train.
“The train driver did apply the emergency brake but could not avoid the collision,” an Infrabel spokesperson explained to local media.
The force of the crash obliterated the bus, leaving debris scattered across the site.
Although the train partially derailed and halted several hundred meters beyond the crossing, only minor injuries were reported among passengers.
Bart Crols, a spokesperson for the National Railway Company of Belgium, stated, “One or two passengers sustained minor injuries.
They were treated on the spot and transported to a hospital for further checks.”
The collision caused widespread damage to infrastructure, including the overhead power lines, track clamps, and barriers at the crossing.
Repairs are expected to take the entire weekend, disrupting train services across West Flanders Province.
A nearby house also suffered structural damage, with resident Nick Vermeulen discovering a large crack in his wall upon returning home.
“Some things had fallen off the wall and were broken,” he said, adding that the damage could have been far worse had the bus traveled even slightly farther.
Local officials have hailed the bus driver’s quick thinking.
Mayor Annick Vermeulen commended his decisive action, remarking, “The driver deserves all the praise.
His courage prevented what could have been a devastating tragedy.”
An investigation is now underway to determine why the bus broke down on the tracks, triggering the dangerous chain of events.
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SOURCE: Bus evacuated seconds before train splits it in half
