OF PAINT –
The chains that normally hang in front of the railway tunnel to warn drivers of the height were briefly removed for repair. A driver had also missed the other warnings on Monday.
The Schelde-Leie police had to arrive on the scene on Langevelddreef in De Pinte on Monday morning for an accident involving a large van. The driver had driven into the railway tunnel there, but had received the warning ‘max. 2.65 meters’ just missed.
His vehicle turned out to be too big. “He drove into the ceiling of the tunnel and lost his roof,” said police spokeswoman Katie Lefever. “The van was severely damaged, but no one was injured in the incident.”
The driver had therefore not seen the warning at the top of the tunnel. Normally there are also chains at the beginning of the railway tunnel that provide an additional indication of the height, “but they were removed last week by Infrabel for repairs,” says Alderman for Public Works, Willem Rombaut (CD&V).
The chains will be replaced next Wednesday. “It is an unfortunate incident, but of course there are still indications that show the height,” says Rombaut. “Unfortunately the driver did not notice it.”
It is not the first time that a vehicle has gotten stuck in the tunnel. Last summer, a bus from De Lijn also got stuck there.