A school minibus driver made a fatal decision to cross a lowered railway barrier in Buggenhout, killing four people including two children. This wasn't a freak accident — the barriers were down, the warning was clear, and the crossing was ignored. Five more children ended up hospitalized in serious condition because basic safety rules weren't followed.
Belgium's rail crossing problem runs deeper than one tragic incident in Buggenhout — the country has one of the world's densest rail networks and a long, documented history of level crossing accidents. Stronger safety protocols and infrastructure upgrades at these crossings are long overdue. Mourning victims after the fact isn't enough when the systemic risks are already well known.
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