A De Lijn bus driver has been sentenced to a three-month suspended prison term for a fatal accident that claimed the life of a 27-year-old Indian doctoral student at the Leuven bus station in February 2024.
The incident occurred around 17:00 on 19 February near the De Lijn bus stops at Leuven station. The bus, arriving from Bondgenotenlaan, struck the pedestrian as it approached its stop. The victim was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to her injuries.
Investigators found no evidence that the driver was under the influence of alcohol or using his mobile phone at the time of the accident. However, the prosecution argued that the driver had been operating the vehicle recklessly. Leuven station, one of the busiest in Flanders, operates under the “secure chaos” principle.
The court handed the driver a three-month prison sentence, suspended under certain conditions. He was also fined €1,600 and received a three-month driving ban, with one month suspended. Additionally, he must retake both theoretical and practical driving tests, as well as undergo medical and psychological evaluations, before being allowed to drive again.
On the civil side of the case, the court ordered the bus company and its insurer to pay the victim’s parents and brother a provisional compensation of €1. The final damages will be determined at a later date.
