Three days after a tragic accident, a school bus from the same company drives through red lights and barriers at the same level crossing: “Disgusting”

Barely three days after the dramatic accident involving a bus from the company ‘t Ros Beiaard, a bus driver from the same company drove over the level crossing at exactly the same spot while the barriers were lowered and the lights were red. This is evident from an email that the management sent to all drivers that same day: “Incomprehensible, irresponsible and downright distasteful.”

Tim Lescrauwaet

2 juni 2026, 10:59•Laatste update: 11:06

“With great surprise, anger and incomprehension, we received a report of inappropriate and dangerous driving behavior today. After this week’s tragic accident, a bus from our company drove over the railway again at exactly the same place, from the same street, while the barriers were already down and the warning lights were red.” This is how the email begins that the management of bus company ‘t Ros Beiaard from Dendermonde sent to all drivers on Friday. The email came after eyewitnesses reported it.

Four dead

Very briefly back to last Tuesday, May 26. The driver of school bus 137 is on his way to the children’s school with seven students and a supervisor. The man drives onto the tracks at the level crossing in Buggenhout in East Flanders. He drives into the barriers, ignores the traffic lights and the school bus is hit by the oncoming train.

Three days later

In the meantime, it has emerged that there had already been several reports in the past about the reckless driving behavior of the driver in question. But three days after the dramatic accident, bus company ‘t Ros Beiaard, which provides student transport as a subcontractor for De Lijn, received several striking reports from eyewitnesses who saw one of their buses driving over the level crossing at exactly the same location. While the red lights were on again and the barriers were lowered. Only: fortunately this time without a collision and dramatic consequences.

Exclamation marks

The management of ‘t Ros Beiaard immediately wrote a fiery email to all drivers who drive for them. Drawn up with the necessary exclamation marks. Our editorial team received the email, which was sent on Friday, May 29, the same day.

After the facts have been described, management continues:

“This defies all imagination. This is incomprehensible, irresponsible and downright distasteful. We cannot and will not tolerate such behavior!!! Everyone who is on the road bears responsibility – for passengers, for children and for all other road users. Safety is not a choice, but an absolute obligation!!! With this email we express our greatest incomprehension and enormous indignation. Such behavior will not be tolerated. Never. We count on everyone to take their responsibility and strictly respect the traffic rules.”

Research

We contacted ‘t Ros Beiaard for a response. The manager does not wish to answer the line for the time being. They say they choose not to communicate and to allow the investigation to proceed “in complete serenity”.

This is what it said in a message on the Facebook page last night: “The competent services have now started an investigation into the circumstances in which this accident occurred. Our company will cooperate constructively in this investigation and provide complete information to the investigators.”