A 19-year-old deaf and mute man has died after being hit by a moving train at a level crossing in the province of Hainaut.
The railway operator Infrabel has confirmed that the victim died around 15:00 on Thursday after being mowed down by a train in the municipality of Erquelinnes.
The 19-year-old had come to spend the evening with a 16-year-old friend from the region, according to the Mayor of Erquelinnes David Lavaux.
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Both wanted to get to the opposite side of the tracks after purchasing tickets at the station. As the level crossing gates closed, the eldest rushed to the rails.
“As he was deaf, he did not hear the level crossing warning bell or his friend, who is also deaf and mute, shouting at him,” says Lavaux
“Thus, the accident was unavoidable," he added, "and he was thrown more than ten metres and did not survive.”
After the accident, rail traffic was interrupted in both directions between Erquelinnes and Lobbes, before being restored around 17:40.
