Motorcyclist performing wheelie crashes into café terrace in Kortrijk; two seriously injured
On Saturday evening, a motorcyclist lost control while performing a wheelie on Kortrijk's Grote Markt and ploughed into a packed café terrace, injuring four people, two of them seriously.
What happened
Around 9 p.m. on Saturday, three motorcyclists rode onto Kortrijk's Grote Markt from the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwestraat. The lead rider pulled a wheelie, balancing the motorcycle on its rear wheel, then lost control. According to witness Danny Depraetere, the rider "put his front wheel back down, but could no longer make his turn. He got his back wheel caught in the gutter and just kept going." The motorcycle grazed a group of patrons before slamming into tables and chairs at the outdoor seating of café L'Amitié, where the terrace was full of people enjoying the warm evening.
Injuries
Four people were hurt. Two terrace guests suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospital, but Belgian media reported later that they were in stable condition. One other customer sustained minor injuries, as did the motorcyclist himself. The motorcycle was described as a total loss, and the café's terrace furniture was heavily damaged.
Witness accounts
Bart Manhaeve, another patron on the terrace, said: "I saw the bike going at a very high speed. It was unbelievable. In two, three seconds time, the accident had happened." He added that bystanders rushed to help the injured, including a former emergency department worker from Ypres. Manhaeve noted that children of terrace visitors were playing on a nearby playground when the crash occurred. "What if the children who were on the square had been hit?" Kortrijk mayor Ruth Vandenberghe said, visibly distressed after visiting the scene.
Reckless riding
Witnesses told local media that a small group of motorcyclists regularly speeds around the area, where the speed limit is 30 km/h. The two other riders accompanying the crashed motorcyclist were reportedly wearing cameras on their helmets, possibly to film the stunt. Café owner Gilles Verhaeghe was too shocked to speak at length, calling the episode "crazy" as he cleared debris.
Investigation
Police cordoned off the crash site and seized all three motorcycles. At the request of the public prosecutor's office, a traffic expert examined the scene. Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage from cameras on the square to determine the exact circumstances. The investigation is ongoing.
