Four dead in collision of a train with a school minibus in Belgium

BarcelonaA passenger train collided with a school minibus at a level crossing in Buggenhout, Belgium, causing four deaths, as confirmed by the Minister of Transport, Jean-Luc Crucke. The school vehicle was carrying seven secondary school students, a chaperone, and the driver, who were heading to a special education school, according to the Belgian newspaper HLN. The fatalities are the two adults and two of the adolescents.

According to the railway network operator, Infrabel, the level crossing signals were red and the barriers were down at the time of the collision. The Minister of Transport also confirmed this and said there is footage to prove it. The company stated that the train driver attempted to activate the emergency brake and that the precise circumstances of the accident are being investigated. Federal police spokeswoman An Berger said the minibus "turned left and crossed the closed barrier".