A tragedy was narrowly avoided this Friday morning in Wavre, in Walloon Brabant. A train hit a car on a level crossing during rush hour. There were 5 passengers in the vehicle. There is someone injured. Rail traffic was disrupted.
A serious accident occurred this Friday morning around 7:45 a.m. at the Chaussée de Bruxelles level crossing in Wavre, in Walloon Brabant. A vehicle, carrying five people, went through the red light at the level crossing as the barriers began to come down.
The vehicle then found itself immobilized on the tracks before being hit by a train traveling between Louvain and Charleroi-Central. The accident left one person injured who was treated by the emergency services.
Following this collision, rail traffic was interrupted in both directions, between Ottignies and Sint-Jooris-Weert (Flemish Brabant). Train traffic was able to resume around 11:30 a.m., said Jessica Nibelle, spokesperson for rail network manager Infrabel.
The train was able to leave on its own while the car was repaired. This will be the subject of investigative duties at the repair shop on the part of the public prosecutor’s office who did not come to the scene.
The railway infrastructure did not suffer major damage with the exception of a barrier which had to be repaired, specifies Infrabel.
“This accident should serve to raise awareness among all Belgians about respecting the highway code. When the light is red and the barriers are down or moving, you cannot pass“, recalls Jessica Nibelle, spokesperson for Infrabel.
If you witness imminent danger on a level crossing, you can contact the number 1711.
Wavre sncb train accident
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Belgium
