British minibus driver taking Jewish group back to London dies, 15-year-old fights for his life and 15 others injured after vehicle overturned in Belgium ‘while driving away from collision with another car’
A British minibus driver carrying a Jewish group back to London has been killed and 16 others injured after the vehicle overturned in Belgium.
A 15-year-old boy remains in critical condition and is fighting for his life after the driver lost control of the minibus after allegedly colliding with another car in the northern city of Antwerp at around 3:30am on Sunday morning.
The driver allegedly failed to stop after colliding with a BMW and continued his journey at high speed before losing steering control while trying to turn onto the ring road, according to local media reports.
The minibus then struck a tram pole and flipped over on its side, killing the driver instantly and leaving the 15-year-old boy in critical condition. Police say 15 other passengers were injured in the accident.
The 15-year-old boy, who is suffering from life-threatening injuries, is currently being treated at the Sint Vincentius Hospital in Antwerp.
A minibus carrying British Jews crashed in Belgium, killing the driver and injuring 16, one seriously.
Police and ambulance are seen at the scene of the accident in Antwerp, Belgium, on Sunday night.
Injuries sustained by the rest on board were described as minor and most had already been released from hospital on Monday morning.
The driver of the BMW involved in the minor collision was also taken to hospital after going into shock upon seeing the minibus crash.
Antwerp police spokesman Wouter Bruyns told local media: “The driver of the BMW followed the bus but stopped when he saw a police car.
The man reported the collision and the police patrol chased the bus.
‘When the patrol reached the intersection of the Sint-Bernardsesteenweg and the Generaal Armstrongweg, the bus was already on its side.
‘The medical intervention plan has been declared. Most of the passengers were slightly injured, but were still taken to hospital.
Police are seen at the scene of the accident in Antwerp in Belgium on Sunday night.
‘A 15-year-old boy is so seriously injured that he is in critical condition. Unfortunately all the help came too late for the driver. He died instantly.
The victim ran a regular bus service between the London Jewish community and the Hasidic community led by Rabbi Leibish Leiser in Antwerp.
The group was returning to London when the accident occurred.
The Pshevorsk movement led by Rabbi Leiser, the only internationally recognized Hasidic movement based in Antwerp, also has followers in London and Manchester.
Bus services run from the UK to Antwerp almost every week so believers can attend Saturday prayers and meals at the Mercatorstraat synagogue.
Visitors then generally stay with family or friends in the city before returning to the UK.
This is breaking news, more to follow…
