More than 30 foreigners in the French bus accident, remarks Antwerp's public prosecutor
The Antwerp public prosecutor's office said in a statement that 30 foreign travelers, aged between 16 and 39 years old, were in the bus accident that occurred on the E19 motorway, in the province of Antwerp (Belgium), this Sunday, around 12 a.m.. In total there were 17 French, 3 Americans, 2 Germans, 2 Colombians, 2 Mexicans, 2 Canadians, an Italian and a Croatian.
The bus was registered in France and linked Paris to Amsterdam with 30 people on board, a spokesman for BlaBlaCar told Belga News Agency. It deviated from its lane, hit a concrete wall on the right before swerving to the left, hitting the safety rail and lying on its side.
A total of 13 people have been admitted to various hospitals in Belgium and 5 are still in critical condition, while five other people are seriously injured. In addition, three other people, including the driver, a 35-year-old Frenchman, were slightly injured.
“According to a police report, we learned that the bus driver was under the influence of drugs, which, if confirmed, is absolutely unacceptable", stated BlaBlaCar. "We apply strict procedures to select and monitor our bus partners. We have launched an investigation to understand how such a security failure could have occurred and we will make sure to take the necessary measures accordingly."
The Antwerp Public Prosecutor's Office stated that it will prosecute the driver for the reasons of "manslaughter", "involuntary injuries", "drug use while driving" and "inability to control his vehicle". The 35-year-old man is to be questioned on Monday afternoon by the police.
The prosecution remarked that the accident killed two people: a 17-year-old Frenchwoman and a 29-year-old Colombian.
Marriage proposal
Andres Felipe Rodriguez (29) and his girlfriend Ana (26) had been a couple for seven years. The couple was on a budget-friendly tour of Europe, according to the Belgian media De Morgen. Besides visiting the capitals in Europe, the trip had another important goal. “Andres went to propose to Ana in Paris”, said Elizabeth Leiva, the mother of Andres, who died in the bus accident on the E19 near Sint-Job-in-'t-Goor. Elizabeth is coming to Belgium this Tuesday to arrange the funeral. “I still want to be able to say goodbye to my son with dignity,” she said.
"We are deeply touched by this accident and our thoughts go out to its victims", reacted BlaBlaCar. The company has made an emergency number available to the relatives of the victims: 0801 90 75 58.
(VIV)
Header Image: © Belga Photo (JONAS ROOSENS) Rescue worker at the scene of a traffic accident involving a coach bus on the E19 highway in Sint-Job-in-'t-Goor, Brecht on Sunday 10 April 2022.