Buggenhout school bus accident: Anonymous testimonies of previous complaints about driver
Prior to the school bus accident in Buggenhout, several bus attendants had already lodged complaints about the driving behaviour of the driver who died in the tragedy. This is reported by VRT NWS, based on anonymous testimonies and an email to which VRT NWS had access. It is not yet clear how the accident could have happened.
In the accident at a level crossing last Tuesday, a school bus collided with a train. Four people were killed: the driver (49), a bus attendant (27) and two children (15 and 12). What exactly happened on that fateful day is still under investigation.
An investigation by VRT NWS has now revealed that, in recent years, several complaints have been lodged about the driver’s driving behaviour by various attendants on the specific bus route 137. They tried to raise the alarm with the school, the bus company and the provincial authorities, but to no avail, according to several previous bus attendants - who wished to remain anonymous.
According to the anonymous witnesses, the complaints concerned mobile phone use, speeding, ignoring barriers and failing to give way. “Children didn’t want to travel on the bus anymore, some had to vomit,” a witness told VRT NWS. “Did I feel safe? No. No, no,” emphasised another. They said that when they raised the alarm, they were told that no other drivers were available.
The bus company referred to De Lijn for a response, which only knows about two minor speeding offences in a 30 km/h zone. “We have now asked the bus company for full clarification once again, and we want that clarification too,” stated the Flemish public transport operator.
The East Flanders Public Prosecutor’s Office reported that the investigation is ongoing. Driving behaviour will be examined as part of this. Following VRT NWS’s report on the testimonies, the Public Prosecutor’s Office stated: “We are aware of the complaints and will, of course, investigate this.” At a press conference last week, the Public Prosecutor’s Office emphasised that the driver had a clean criminal record.
#FlandersNewsService | The school bus accident in Buggenhout © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM
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