Eyewitness Philemon Van Ransbeeck was standing with his car at the level crossing in Buggenhout and saw the tragedy happen with the minibus. “The van took a hit and was catapulted into the air,” he tells VTM NIEUWS. “It was a very dull blow.”
Source: VTM NEWS
“I was standing in front of the level crossing with my car,” says Van Ransbeeck. The tracks were shielded by a hedge, so he did not see the van coming at first. “In just a few seconds, the van suffered a huge impact and was catapulted into the air.”
He describes the blow as a very dull blow. “It was as if I had been punched myself. If I had gotten out, I would probably have fallen through my legs. I felt my own arms and legs shaking.” He knew immediately that it was a serious accident.
“My wife got out immediately,” he says. “She heard victims crying and screaming on the bus.” It was the second time for her to witness a collision. “Last time it took months for that image to get out of her head.” He also continues to see the collision before his eyes.
His condolences especially go out to the children’s parents. “You put your child on the bus to school and a little later you receive this terrible news. It’s unbelievable how quickly that goes.”
