Two children among six injured in nighttime pileup on Belgium's E403 highway
A black Opel stopped at a closed exit was rear-ended by a white van early Saturday, triggering a second collision minutes later on the E403 highway in West Flanders. Emergency crews extricated two children from the wreckage; all injured were taken to hospital.
The first collision
Around 2:30 on Saturday morning, a black Opel carrying two adults and two children had come to a halt on the E403 motorway just before the Izegem-Roeselare Haven exit. The exit has been closed for roadworks, and the Opel's driver may not have expected the closure. A white van struck the stationary car from behind, sending the van tens of metres down the road before it came to rest facing the opposite direction. The van driver and all four Opel occupants were injured. Firefighters had to free the two children from the Opel.
Second pileup
Minutes later, a black Volkswagen Golf, whose driver failed to notice the first crash, collided with a grey Hyundai Ioniq taxi at the same spot. The Golf driver was hurt and transported to hospital; the taxi driver escaped without injury, according to most reports. VRT NWS, however, reported that both drivers were injured, bringing the total to seven. Other outlets put the number of injured at six.
- Black Opel rear-ended by a white van near the closed Izegem-Roeselare Haven exit.
- Second collision: VW Golf strikes a Hyundai Ioniq taxi at the same location.
- Police reopen the E403 highway after clearing the wreckage and completing the investigation.
Emergency response and closure
Debris was scattered across the carriageway and four vehicles were heavily damaged, forcing police to shut the E403 entirely between Roeselare and Lichtervelde in the direction of Bruges. A traffic accident expert was called to the scene. The motorway remained closed for several hours and reopened around 8:30 Saturday morning.
Victims and investigation
The severity of the injuries was not immediately known. Police have not released further details on the condition of the six or seven people taken to hospital. The accident expert's findings will determine the precise cause of the two collisions.
