Ypres (Brussels Morning Newspaper): Veerle Maes witnessed a cyclist accident at a dangerous roundabout, where Sarah Trioen was killed a year prior. She helped the victim alongside army members and a nurse.
Veerle Maes was working nearby when she suddenly heard cars screeching and people shouting outside. She was scared because her daughter was cycling in that area and she worried something had happened to her. She ran outside to see what was going on. The scene was chaotic, but when she looked around, she felt relieved to see that the person involved was not her daughter. However, she still wanted to help.
How can the authorities improve safety at the roundabout following the recent accidents?
When Veerle reached the victim, she found army members and a nearby nurse assisting. The nurse had called emergency services, and they were following instructions to help the injured person. Veerle and the others worked together to stabilize the victim, performing CPR and heart massage as directed over the phone. Despite their efforts, the situation appeared serious, and a sense of worry filled the group as they tried to save the person’s life.
It has been said that the accident that Veerle Maes saw was not the only one at the roundabout. A year before, a cyclist named Sarah Trioen, who was 30 years old, was killed when a truck hit her. Veerle Mentioned that this shows how dangerous this busy intersection can be, with many types of traffic mixing, making it risky for cyclists and pedestrians. Sarah’s death deeply affected the local community.
According to Maes, the area is always busy with fast-moving cyclists, electric scooter riders, and cars. Drivers need to be very careful to avoid accidents with the quickly passing road users. Maes said that if drivers are not careful, accidents can easily happen. She suggested that better safety measures or a redesign of the roundabout are needed to stop more tragedies.
