A collision between a car and a train occurred at a level crossing at Ezemaal in Landen (Flemish Brabant) late on Tuesday night, killing the car driver (59). On Wednesday, train traffic is still severely disrupted.
A little before midnight, a train collided with a car that was stopped at a level crossing in Ezemaal, resulting in the death of the man behind the wheel. Between Landen and Vertrijk in Flemish Brabant, trains are currently running on a track.
"The train hit the car at full speed and carried the vehicle some 600 metres," Landen mayor Gino Debroux told VRT.
The circumstances of the accident are not yet clear, said Infrabel spokesperson Frédéric Petit. The level-crossing system functioned normally. Police and prosecutors are investigating the circumstances of the accident. "We do not know whether the car broke down or got stuck. The train driver tried to carry out an emergency braking, but a collision could not be avoided."
Related News
- Pedestrian tunnel underneath Schaerbeek station opens today
- Reckless motorcyclist near miss with speeding train (VIDEO)
The train has been damaged and has been towed away, the railway infrastructure will have to be repaired. The car has since been towed as well.
Rail traffic between Landen and Vertrijk is currently resumed over one track, but only for the Quiévrain-Liège connection in both directions. Other trains are being diverted locally and passengers can use replacement buses in both directions. Between Landen and Hasselt, passengers can use a replacement train. Train coming from Hasselt will be diverted locally via Diest or Aarschot to Leuven.
Not the first time
This accident was one of several fatal ones this summer: a fortnight ago, a car driver was killed after a train collided with it at a level crossing in Ypres. Last week, a 17-year-old pedestrian died after a collision at a level crossing in Ganshoren.
"We urge you to always be very careful near a level crossing and follow the barriers, the light and the bell signal carefully," said Petit of Inrabel. "With the holidays and the nice weather, we are getting more reports of people near tracks. It is important to stay at a safe distance."
