A train collided with a school minivan at a level crossing in the Belgian town of Buggenhout on Tuesday, killing four people, including two students with special needs, according to local authorities.

The victims included two pupils, aged 12 and 15, the 49-year-old minivan driver and a 27-year-old female chaperone. Five other schoolboys were seriously injured in the crash, the local prosecutor’s office said.

The minivan was carrying seven pupils to school when it was struck near Buggenhout station, about 23 kilometers north of Brussels. Images from the scene showed the white vehicle lying on its side beside the railway tracks, with severe damage to its front.

Police spokesperson An Berger said the crossing’s safety barriers were down when the collision occurred. Authorities were investigating how the minivan entered the crossing and came into the path of the approaching train.

The train was carrying more than 100 passengers, none of whom suffered major injuries, according to authorities. The train driver applied the emergency brakes, but an Infrabel spokesperson said the impact was extremely violent.

The prosecutor’s office said an autopsy would be conducted on the minivan driver. The train driver tested negative for drugs and alcohol following the crash.

Belgian transport operator De Lijn said the minivan was operated by a subcontractor and had no reported mechanical problems. The company also said the driver was medically fit, fully trained and had a clean driving record.

A colleague of the driver, Dirk Vandevelde, told Reuters that operating a school vehicle requires constant caution and described the crash as a tragic accident.

Residents described chaotic scenes immediately after the collision. Local resident David Verhulst told VRT that he heard a loud bang and saw numerous people attempting to provide emergency assistance to those inside the vehicle.

Verhulst also said the crossing was particularly busy between 8 and 9 a.m., when traffic in the area increases. Several roads converge around the crossing, he said.

Buggenhout Mayor Geert Hermans said books of condolence would be opened following the deaths. He urged the community to show restraint and respect toward the victims’ families.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also expressed condolences, saying that Europe was mourning with Belgium.

The crash has renewed attention on safety at Belgian railway crossings. According to figures published by railway infrastructure operator Infrabel, 36 people have died in 168 level-crossing accidents in Belgium since 2021.

Police and prosecutors opened an investigation to determine how the minivan entered the crossing despite the safety barriers being down and to establish the circumstances leading to the fatal collision.

SOURCE: Reuters, Inti Landauro, Charlotte Van Campenhout and Bart Biesemans, May 26, 2026.