A woman was killed at the Cambre-Étoile STIB tram stop in Ixelles on Thursday morning after being hit from behind by a tram. The woman died on the scene.
The 32-year-old cyclist was struck by the tram at around 09:30 on Thursday. “This is a very serious accident, the cyclist unfortunately died. Our tram driver was in shock and was taken to the hospital. The tram came from the Legrand stop and was heading towards the Buyl stop,” said STIB spokesperson Cindy Arents.
One eyewitness told the Belgian newspaper La Dernière Heure that the woman was attempting to cross the tram tracks on her bike, when she unexpectedly stopped to make way for a tram travelling the other direction.
Despite spotting the cyclist, the tram driver did not expect the cyclist to stop, and she was hit from behind at a speed of 25-30 kilometres per hour.
The tram driver activated his emergency brakes, but nevertheless, the victim was thrown forwards and trapped underneath the approaching tram. The victim was killed upon impact. Emergency teams attempted to revive the patient, but were unsuccessful.
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According to the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office, the tram driver tested negative for drugs and alcohol.
"The Public Prosecutor's Office was informed of the facts and has ordered several investigative assignments. A traffic expert has been ordered to the scene and the camera images are being analysed to determine the exact cause of the accident," a spokesperson said.
Part of the Avenue du Bois de la Cambre between Jardin de l’Abbaye de La Cambre and Avenue Louise was closed to traffic in the morning as a result of the accident. Traffic along Avenue Adolphe Buyl and Avenue de l’Hippodrome was severely disrupted.
