Passenger Dies After Drunk Driver Crashes Car Into Trees in Bruges

Bruges (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – October 12, 2026 – A 50-year-old man died after a car carrying three people crashed into two trees in Sint-Kruis, a district of Bruges, on Sunday night, 11 October 2026. A 19-year-old passenger sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital in a critical condition, while the 47-year-old driver suffered minor injuries. The driver tested positive for alcohol following the collision, and his driving licence was immediately suspended for 15 days. West Flanders Public Prosecutor’s Office has appointed a traffic expert to investigate the circumstances, with preliminary findings indicating that the vehicle may have been travelling at excessive speed.

The fatal collision occurred at approximately 23:25 in De Linde, a residential street in Sint-Kruis. The vehicle left the road for reasons that have not yet been established and struck a tree. The force of the impact sent the car across the road, where it collided with a second tree on the opposite side.

Emergency services attended the scene, but the 50-year-old passenger could not be saved. The injured 19-year-old was transported to hospital in a critical condition. Authorities are continuing to examine the circumstances of the crash, including the vehicle’s speed and the events that caused it to leave the carriageway.

What Happened in the Fatal Crash in Sint-Kruis?

The collision took place on Sunday evening in De Linde, a residential area within Sint-Kruis, which forms part of Bruges in West Flanders, Belgium.

According to reports published by The Brussels Times, Het Laatste Nieuws and local news outlet Lokaal Nieuws on 12 October, the car was carrying three occupants when it left the road and struck a tree.

The vehicle then crossed the road and came to rest against another tree. The collision caused fatal injuries to the 50-year-old passenger, who was a resident of Bruges.

The driver, a 47-year-old man from Damme, sustained minor injuries. The other passenger, aged 19, was seriously injured and taken to hospital in a critical condition.

The initial reports did not establish why the vehicle left the road. Investigators have indicated that excessive speed may have been a factor, but the precise circumstances remain under examination.

The crash prompted an emergency response involving police and medical personnel. Het Laatste Nieuws also reported that the street remained closed for several hours while emergency services dealt with the incident and the wrecked vehicle was removed.

How Did Alcohol Testing Affect the Driver After the Collision?

The driver tested positive for alcohol following the crash, according to the reports citing information from the West Flanders Public Prosecutor’s Office.

His driving licence was immediately suspended for 15 days. The measure was reported on 12 October by The Brussels Times and local Belgian news outlets.

The driver’s positive alcohol test is a significant part of the ongoing investigation. However, the publicly available initial reports do not provide a precise blood-alcohol concentration or details of the testing procedure beyond the positive result.

The available reporting also does not establish whether additional criminal charges have been filed or whether a court has made any determination concerning responsibility for the fatal collision.

Investigators are still examining the events leading up to the crash. The appointment of a traffic expert is intended to help establish the precise circumstances of the incident, including the vehicle’s movement before it left the road.

The 15-day licence suspension is the immediate measure reported by the authorities. Any further legal consequences would depend on the investigation and subsequent proceedings, if applicable.

Why Are Investigators Examining the Vehicle’s Speed?

Preliminary findings indicate that the car may have been travelling at excessive speed when the collision occurred.

The West Flanders Public Prosecutor’s Office appointed a traffic expert to investigate the crash and establish how the vehicle left the road. The expert’s examination forms part of the effort to determine the sequence of events that resulted in the fatal impact.

The vehicle reportedly struck a tree before being thrown across the road and hitting a second tree. This sequence is central to understanding how the collision unfolded, although the precise speed and the circumstances immediately before the first impact have not been established in the initial reports.

Het Laatste Nieuws reported that a local resident heard the vehicle passing at considerable speed before hearing the crash. The publication included the resident’s account of the noise generated by the impact.

Such eyewitness accounts provide information about what people nearby experienced, but they do not independently establish the vehicle’s speed or explain why the driver lost control.

The official preliminary assessment cited by the media points to excessive speed as a possible factor. The investigation will need to establish the relevant circumstances rather than treating an initial assessment as a final determination.

No final findings from the appointed traffic expert were included in the reports published on 12 October.

What Is Known About the Two Passengers?

The two passengers suffered markedly different outcomes in the collision.

The 50-year-old man, a Bruges resident, died at the scene. Emergency personnel attended the incident, but their efforts to save him were unsuccessful, according to local reporting.

The second passenger, aged 19, sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital in a critical condition. Het Laatste Nieuws reported that the younger passenger was the driver’s son.

The initial reports did not provide further verified medical details about the younger passenger or confirm any subsequent change in his condition.

The identities of the two passengers were not provided in the reports reviewed for this article. Their ages, the older passenger’s residence and the younger passenger’s critical condition were among the details reported publicly.

The driver sustained minor injuries, according to the same accounts. His positive alcohol test and the immediate suspension of his driving licence were also reported.

The collision involved a single vehicle, and the initial reports did not identify any other vehicles as being involved. The circumstances of the crash remain under investigation by the relevant authorities.

Where Did the Collision Take Place in Bruges?

The crash occurred in De Linde, a residential street in Sint-Kruis, a district of Bruges in Belgium’s West Flanders province.

The location was identified consistently in local reports published on 12 October. The incident happened at approximately 23:25 on Sunday, 11 October, according to the initial accounts.

Het Laatste Nieuws described De Linde as a residential area with trees alongside the road. Its report also included comments from a resident who said that vehicles sometimes travelled too quickly through the neighbourhood.

The street’s residential setting was part of the local context reported after the collision. However, the available reports do not establish whether road design, visibility, lighting or any other feature of the location contributed to the crash.

The fact that the car struck two trees is documented in the reporting, but investigators have not yet published a complete reconstruction of the collision.

The road was closed for several hours while the emergency response and subsequent work at the scene took place. The damaged vehicle was later removed.

No broader traffic restrictions or continuing road closures were identified in the reports reviewed for this article.

What Have Local Authorities Confirmed About the Investigation?

The West Flanders Public Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed, through statements reported by Belgian media, that a traffic expert has been appointed to examine the circumstances of the fatal collision.

The initial findings indicate that the vehicle may have been travelling at excessive speed. The driver also tested positive for alcohol, and his driving licence was suspended immediately for 15 days.

These are the principal developments reported publicly following the incident.

The investigation must establish why the car left the road and how the sequence of impacts occurred. The available reports do not provide a completed technical assessment or a final explanation of the crash.

The authorities have not been reported as confirming a final legal finding concerning the driver’s responsibility. A positive alcohol test and preliminary findings about speed are relevant reported facts, but they do not, by themselves, establish the outcome of any potential criminal proceedings.

The publicly available information also does not specify a timetable for the traffic expert’s findings or any subsequent court proceedings.

Further details about the collision may become available as the investigation progresses. Until additional official findings are released, the cause of the vehicle leaving the road remains undetermined.

Background: How the Fatal Bruges Collision Is Being Investigated

The collision occurred on 11 October 2026 and was reported by Belgian news organisations the following day. Initial coverage focused on the death of the 50-year-old passenger, the critical condition of the 19-year-old passenger, the driver’s positive alcohol test and the investigation into the vehicle’s speed.

The West Flanders Public Prosecutor’s Office appointed a traffic expert to examine the circumstances. This technical examination is intended to help establish how the crash occurred.

The initial accounts describe the vehicle leaving the road, striking a tree, crossing to the opposite side and hitting a second tree. The exact reason for the vehicle’s departure from the carriageway has not been established in the reports.

The driver’s licence was suspended for 15 days after the positive alcohol test. The reports reviewed do not establish the final legal outcome of the case.

These details represent the position reported on 12 October 2026. They should be distinguished from any subsequent findings that may emerge through the investigation or legal process.

What Happens Next in the Bruges Crash Investigation?

The next confirmed step is the examination by the traffic expert appointed by the West Flanders Public Prosecutor’s Office. The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances of the collision, including why the vehicle left the road and the role, if any, played by its speed.

The driver’s positive alcohol test and 15-day driving licence suspension remain among the key facts reported by authorities. The available reports do not confirm whether additional charges will follow or when a final determination will be made.