Lievegem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A vehicle hit an 80-year-old female victim in Gruitrode at 10:45 am on February 1, 2025. The doctors admitted the victim to the hospital while police initiated investigations to determine the accident’s circumstances.
An 80-year-old female sustained critical injuries at Gruitrode after hitting a vehicle when riding her bicycle at the Leemakkerstraat and Sint-Willibrordusstraat intersection. The accident occurred at 10:45 am at the public intersection connecting Leemakkerstraat to Sint-Willibrordusstraat.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene immediately before they sent the injured female patient to the hospital by ambulance. The local police officers under CARMA leadership are determining the elements that caused this accident.
At 10:45 am, an elderly cyclist met an accident after a vehicle hit him at the Leemakkerstraat and Sint-Willibrordusstraat intersection. Information indicates that the woman received severe injuries due to the collision. Emergency medical services sent from the hospital arrived promptly to help the patient at the accident site before taking her to a hospital for additional treatment.
The CARMA police department controls the area and is now investigating the incident to identify why the accident happened.
The exact circumstances of the accident are not yet clear; they still have to be investigated,
stated a police spokesperson.
Transport at the intersection faced short-term closures after the response event, but authorities restored free access to all vehicles.
What are the safety concerns for cyclists in Belgium?
Increasing cycling accidents across Belgium have created rising bicycle safety concerns on roads throughout the previous years. Bjorg Lambrecht lost his life in a bicycle accident during the Tour of Poland competition while hitting a concrete wall in August 2019.
During a training session in August 2023, the young cyclist Tijl De Decker lost his life in an accident that involved him hitting a motorised vehicle following his own path.
Cyclists experience significant dangers when sharing roads with vehicles during their commute and recreational cycling activities throughout Gruitrode and neighbouring districts. The intersections between Leemakkerstraat and Sint-Willibrordusstraat maintain safety concerns because motor vehicles create challenging conditions with reduced visibility while boosting traffic density.
The authorities received calls to establish enhanced safety protocols through better road signage and cycling infrastructure, which would decrease these types of incidents.
