Overview
- The collision, which occurred Tuesday morning, hit a school bus reported to be carrying seven children, a driver and an accompanying adult and left multiple people dead or injured according to early media reports.
- Photographs and video circulated by journalists and cited by rail officials show the level-crossing barriers lowered and the light signal red at the time of impact, though investigators have not confirmed a final cause.
- Railway police carried out initial checks and the public prosecutor’s office has taken charge of a formal criminal and technical inquiry that will examine operations, signals and any human factors.
- Authorities are withholding victim identities as inquiries continue, and ministers including Interior Minister Bernard Quintin have offered condolences and pledged support to the victims and their families.
- Infrabel, the state rail infrastructure manager, will be a focus of the probe because it runs crossings and signals, and the inquiry could prompt reviews of level-crossing safety and transport arrangements for pupils with special needs.