Tragedy in Buggenhout: School bus attendants had previously complained about driver’s behaviour

‘I want to tell my story, in honour of Anke. And because of the injustice. So much is being kept quiet, both by the school and by the bus company. I feel I have to speak out.’

Speaking is Els*, one of the bus attendants who used to work on bus 137 in Buggenhout, the bus that collided with a train last Tuesday morning. It is not yet clear how the accident could have happened, and VRT News cannot say anything about that today either. Four people were killed in the accident: the 49-year-old driver, bus attendant Anke (27), pupils Mohamed Reda (15) and Arthur (12).

Anke was on the bus after the previous attendant had stopped working due to the driver’s driving behaviour; her predecessors now wish to speak to us anonymously.

Bus attendants testify anonymously: ‘Did I feel safe? No’

Exactly what happened on that fateful day is still under investigation. Yet, at the same time, many questions are being raised. Over the past few years, several complaints about the driver’s driving behaviour have been lodged by various attendants on bus route 137. They say they tried to raise the alarm with the school, the bus company and the provincial council, but to no avail.

‘I was the regular bus supervisor on that bus for a while,’ says Sofie*, another witness, speaking anonymously. ‘I knew the children, supervisor Anke and the driver well too.’ She says she has mixed feelings. ‘I’m glad I’m still here today, but of course you wouldn’t wish this on anyone.’

What did attendants complain about?

‘We’re talking about mobile phone use, driving onto the railway tracks when the barriers were already coming down, driving at far too high speeds, and failing to give way. Children didn’t want to travel on the bus anymore; some of them were vomiting.’

She had already reported this before the accident, says Sofie*. She contacted the bus company by phone and the school by email. Our editorial team was also able to view that email.

In it, Sofie* mentions the same issues. Reckless and defiant driving, mobile phone use, speeding, and a failure to take other cars, cyclists and pedestrians into account. She writes that it does not feel safe to drive around with children, and that she, like the children, no longer feels safe.

‘Nothing was done about the complaints. We were told that no other drivers were available. That makes it even more painful; this should not have happened.’

Els* is certain that the bus company was also aware of the situation. ‘When the school is informed, they pass the information on to the local authority and the bus company. They must have known. But the excuse was always that there was a shortage of drivers or supervisors.’

She doesn’t think that’s a valid argument. “I’d rather the bus didn’t run at all than have an irresponsible driver behind the wheel. Parents trust the supervisor to ensure that a responsible driver is at the wheel.”

The supervisors are testifying anonymously, out of fear. Last night they received a message from the school stating that they were not allowed to speak to the press and that their reports had been ‘emailed to the bus company’ and would be forwarded to the public prosecutor’s office. Employees of the bus company have also been banned from speaking to the press.

However, the story is also echoed by the mother of one of the children on the bus. Her son told her he was scared on the bus; the boy spoke of a reckless driver. And she was also aware that there had been complaints about the driver.

Why was no action taken?

The big question now is: what happened to those warning signs from the bus attendants? Why was no action taken? And is there actually sufficient oversight of who is driving buses like these?

The bus company, a subcontractor for Flemish public transport company De Lijn, has referred us to De Lijn for a response. De Lijn is only aware of two minor speeding offences in a 30 km/h zone. ‘We have communicated what we have always been told, namely that the driver had no criminal record and that there were two minor offences,’ says De Lijn. ‘We have now once again asked the bus company for full clarity, and we too want that clarity.’

When VRT News asks the school for a response, the management refers us to the provincial authorities. They are responsible for the bus supervisors, but in turn refer us to the public prosecutor’s office.

In an official response the public prosecutor’s office informs us that the investigation is “in full swing”. Driving behaviour will undoubtedly be examined as part of this.

At a press conference last week, the public prosecutor’s office did emphasise that the driver had a clean criminal record. According to our information, he does indeed have no convictions to his name, either in the criminal court or the police court.

And let’s be clear: exactly how the accident happened is not yet clear. Nor is it clear whether the driver's driving behaviour played a part. VRT News is unable to comment on that at this stage.