Riemst School Bus Crashes into Tree: Driver Uninjured, Attendant Injured

Riemst (Eurotoday) – A school bus collided with a tree in Riemst, resulting in injuries and an emergency rescue operation. The vehicle was carrying the driver along with two to three additional passengers. One 16-year-old passenger had to be extracted from the wreck by emergency personnel.

The accident occurred on Maastrichtersteenweg in Riemst and left two individuals injured after the bus struck a tree, as reported by

VRT
. The crash happened around 2:15 PM. A 16-year-old boy, who was not the driver but a passenger, was trapped inside and required the intervention of emergency crews. A bus attendant from Sint-Gerardus in Diepenbeek was also hurt in the incident. The teen remained conscious throughout, according to his mother.

Emergency services transported the injured attendant to the hospital. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash. A full road closure was enforced, and police established a secured perimeter around the accident site.

At 2:15 PM, the Bilzen-Hoeselt-Riemst police zone received the initial report of the incident. Firefighters and rescue teams responded quickly, using specialized tools to open the wrecked vehicle and free the teenage passenger.

According to Mayor Mark Vos (CD&V), the bus had a three-member team onboard, including the driver. The bus was affiliated with Sint-Gerardus in Diepenbeek, which had assigned at least one supervisor, who received medical care.

While no loud crash was heard by bystanders in the area, residents did report hearing unusual honking just before the accident.

“Apart from the driver, there were 2 people on board,”

confirmed Mayor Mark Vos (CD&V).

VRT reports that the speed limit on Maastrichtersteenweg is 70 kilometres per hour, although locals consider the road to be hazardous. The specific reason for the incident remains undetermined as investigations are ongoing.

Have there been previous accidents or safety concerns on Maastrichtersteenweg?

Local authorities have previously flagged Maastrichtersteenweg in Riemst as a dangerous stretch of road. Reports show that a number of accidents linked to speeding and sharp curves have occurred in the area. However, prior to this recent crash, school buses operating on the route had maintained a solid safety record.

In 2019, a vehicle veered off the same road and landed in a ditch—but fortunately, that incident did not result in serious injuries. Residents have also expressed concerns about poor visibility during peak traffic hours.