Zwevegem –
In the Bekaertstraat in Zwevegem, a tragic accident happened with a school-going child on Friday morning. The 12-year-old girl was caught on her bicycle by a truck. The accident probably happened during an overtaking maneuver by the truck, when he passed the cycling girls. In any case, it is not a blind spot accident.
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The victim is a 12-year-old girl who drove from the center of Zwevegem towards Deerlijkstraat, together with a girlfriend. The truck was heading in the same direction. There is a school across the street. An attempt was made to resuscitate the child, but to no avail. The girlfriend was unharmed.
The family of the killed girl came to say goodbye. Together with the driver of the truck, they were received by the Victim Support Service of the police.
Tragic confluence
Just a stone’s throw from the scene of the fatal accident, a cycling event has just started today for safer traffic and for the benefit of the Parents of Verongelukte Children. The promoter of Tournée Flandrienne, an initiative that wants to get business leaders on their bikes, and the spokesman for the Fietsersbond immediately came to Bekaertstraat when they heard the news.
“It is very painful that this can still happen in 2020,” says Wies Callens of the Fietsersbond. “For years we have advocated avoiding heavy traffic in school environments at the beginning and end of classes. It is painful to note that in 2020 we are still in a planning phase and that there are still conflict situations. It is not only the school environment that must be tackled, investments must be made to ensure that the children cycle safely on the entire route from home to school. ”
At Transfo Zwevegem, where Tournéé Flandrienne will start around 1.30 pm, a tribute will first be held for the 12-year-old girl who was killed in an accident today.
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