In Solre-sur-Sambre, a borough of Erquelinnes (province of Hainaut), a pedestrian was hit by a train. The victim died on the spot, rail network operator Infrabel reported.
The accident happened shortly after 3 p.m. at the railway crossing. The young man was hit by a train traveling between Namur and Mauberge. “The pedestrian crossed the level crossing, at that time the barriers were down,” said spokesman Frederic Sacré.
According to the mayor of Erquelinnes, the victim was a 19-year-old deaf-mute young man from Marchienne-au-Pont. He was visiting a 16-year-old friend. The accident happened shortly after the youngsters bought tickets at the station.
Ringing signal
The victim wanted to cross the tracks when the barriers of the level crossing closed. “Because he is deaf-mute, he hasn’t heard the ringer and his friend – who is also deaf-mute – screaming,” said David Lavaux. “The accident was inevitable. He was catapulted more than ten meters away.”
After the accident, train traffic was interrupted in both directions between Erquelinnes and Lobbes. Trains have been running again since 5.40 pm.
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