Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A 9-year-old Jewish boy named Jidle was fatally hit by a speeding police car on Provinciestraat, Antwerp, near Ketsstraat. The Hasidic community mourns; investigation ongoing.
As HBVL and HLN News reported, on Wednesday morning, July 18, 2025, in Antwerp, an incident occurred on Provinciestraat. A 9-year-old boy, on his way to school, was hit by a police car. The accident happened near Ketsstraat, a busy area with many people, kids, and cars. People said they heard sirens and saw a fast-moving police car.
Sunny, who works at a sandwich shop, heard a loud noise and saw the boy’s bike on the road. Another person said the police car was going fast with its sirens on when it swerved to miss a parked car and then hit the boy, who was riding his bike alone. The police stopped and tried to help the boy right away.
What led to the death of 9-year-old Jidle in the Antwerp crash?
After the accident, the emergency services quickly came to help. The boy’s injuries were very serious. The Antwerp authorities are now looking into what happened. They have hired a traffic expert and will check videos, bodycam footage, and what people saw and said.
Officials mentioned that this incident has caused people in the city to talk about the risks of emergency vehicles going fast in busy areas, especially when kids are going to school. Many want stricter rules to keep everyone safe, especially children, while still allowing police to respond quickly.
The boy, called ‘Jidle’, who was hit by a police car in Antwerp, was from a Jewish family. He was on his way to school. The police car was responding to an emergency call, using its sirens and flashing lights.
The police officers tried to miss the parked car and the boy but the crash happened too quickly. Emergency services, including police, were trying to save him immediately. His family is accessing help from a Jewish emergency service. The family have a crisis team helping them through this tragedy.
According to officials, the accident has deeply affected Antwerp’s Hasidic Jewish community. People are mourning and supporting the family. A family friend, Herman Weingarten, said the family is very religious and the accident is a huge loss. The Jewish community is shocked and is offering prayers.
Another police unit is investigating to be fair. It’s not yet known who will lead the full investigation. The police involved are getting help for the stress. The investigation will check traffic footage, road conditions, the car’s speed, and whether safety rules were followed.
