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Jewish driver killed and two yeshiva students critically injured in Belgium bus crash
Shimmy Segal died when his minivan overturned after hitting a car
March 20, 2023 13:35
Shimmy Segal died when his minivan overturned after hitting a car
March 20, 2023 13:35A British Jewish man has been killed and two teenage boys left in critical condition after a bus carrying yeshiva students crashed in Belgium.
Driver Shimmy Segal died after reportedly losing control of a minibus when it hit another car in Antwerp in the early hours of Sunday morning.
According to Charedi media, the 73-year-old is said to have suffered a medical incident while behind the wheel. His funeral will take place later today in Enfield.
Almost twenty other passengers were injured as they returned to London after spending Shabbat in Belgium.
Their vehicle hit a BMW and careered out of control while attempting to turn onto a ring road.
It then crashed into a tram pole and flipped onto its side, Belgian media reported.
Segal is said to have died at the scene, while seriously injured victims were taken to Sint Vincentius Hospital in Antwerp for treatment.
The majority of the remaining passengers were reportedly lightly injured, and most have now been discharged from the hospital.
Foreign Office officials are understood to be in touch with local authorities following the accident.
Antwerp police spokesperson Wouter Bruyns told local media: “The driver of the BMW followed the bus but stopped when he saw a police car.
“The man reported the collision, and the police patrol pursued the bus. When the patrol arrived at the intersection of Sint-Bernardsesteenweg and Generaal Armstrongweg, the bus was already on its side.
“The medical intervention plan has been declared. Most of the passengers were lightly injured but still taken to the hospital.
“A 15-year-old is so seriously injured that he is in critical condition. Unfortunately, all help came too late for the driver. He died on the spot.”
The yeshiva students travelling in the bus are understood to have spent Shabbat with the Rebbe of the Pshevorsk Chasidic community, which is based in Belgium.
The small sect is understood to maintain close ties with Satmar communities, and regularly hosts delegations from the UK.
The Foreign Office have been contacted for comment.