Four people killed in Belgium in train and school bus collision

An investigation is under way after four people, including two children, were killed when a school minibus collided with a train in northern Belgium . Five children were injured in the crash at a level crossing near the small town of Buggenhout in Flanders on Tuesday. Belgium’s transport minister, Jean-Luc Crucke, told RTL TV that two young people, the bus driver and an adult accompanying the children had lost their lives. “My first thoughts are with the victims, but also those people who are injured and their families,” he said. The other five passengers in the bus, all children, were taken to hospital with serious injuries and were said to be in stable condition. The crash happened just after 8am on Tuesday when a school minivan collided with a train travelling from Bruges to Buggenhout, about 14 miles (22km) north of Brussels. Map showing location of Buggenhout in Belgium The bus was reported to have attempted to cross the level crossing, despite lowered barriers and a flashing red light. On seeing the van, the train driver applied the emergency brakes but was unable to avoid the collision. A spokesperson for the rail network operator Infrabel told the Flemish public broadcaster VRT: “We do not know how the accident could have happened. …