The incident occurred on the night of Saturday 2 to Sunday 3 May on the Koninklijke Baan in Middelkerke. A van tried to escape a police check around 1:50 am. During the subsequent chase, a serious traffic accident occurred. One of the seven passengers was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. According to the traffic expert’s initial findings, a steering error was the cause of the accident.
After questioning, the public prosecutor’s office decided to bring the driver of the vehicle before the Bruges investigating judge. He arrested the 21-year-old Pakistani man on suspicion of human smuggling. The council chamber in Bruges ruled again on Friday morning that he must remain in prison for at least a month longer in the interest of the investigation.