A 14-year-old boy who escaped from a youth institution in Groningen, Netherlands, caused a multi-vehicle crash on Tuesday in Burcht, Belgium, after driving a stolen van approximately 300 kilometers. The incident resulted in three injuries, including the teenager, and triggered a significant emergency response near the E17 highway interchange, according to reports from RTV Noord and other regional outlets.
The Timeline of the Collision
The incident began around 2:00 p.m. on the Krijgsbaan in the village of Burcht, located in the province of East Flanders, near Antwerp. According to OOG Groningen, witnesses reported seeing a small white van with Dutch license plates driving recklessly and weaving through heavy traffic at high speeds.
Before the final impact, the van reportedly side-swiped one vehicle and struck another before colliding head-on with a third passenger car and a second van. The force of the final collision trapped two people inside the passenger car, requiring local firefighters to use specialized extraction tools to free them from the wreckage.
Injured Victims Receive Hospital Treatment
While the crash caused significant property damage, local authorities confirmed that none of the victims sustained life-threatening injuries. All three injured individuals, including the 14-year-old driver, were transported to a hospital for treatment.
The driver was able to exit his vehicle on his own following the crash. The boy remains in custody under police supervision while the investigation into the circumstances of his escape and the subsequent cross-border journey continues.
14-jarige ontsnapt uit instelling in Nederlandse Groningen en botst in Burcht frontaal op tegenliggerhttps://t.co/PeI7cdR8gC
Details of the Incident
- Location: Krijgsbaan, Burcht, Belgium (near the E17 motorway complex).
- Involved Vehicles: Five vehicles in total, including the van driven by the teenager.
- Casualties: Three people hospitalized, including the driver; no fatalities reported.
- Origin: The boy had fled an institution in the Dutch city of Groningen earlier that day.
What Is the Current Condition of the Victims?
What is the current condition of the victims?
All three individuals injured in the collision, including the 14-year-old driver, were taken to the hospital, but police have confirmed that none are in life-threatening condition.
How did the boy reach Belgium?
The teenager traveled approximately 300 kilometers from a youth institution in Groningen, Netherlands, to the Antwerp area in a van with Dutch license plates.
Has the identity of the institution been released?
While multiple reports confirm the boy escaped from a facility in Groningen, the specific name and type of the institution have not been disclosed by authorities.
Related reading