Mayor shocked by school camp accident that killed 3 kids, 1 adult; 19-year-old arrested

Terneuzen is “extremely shocked” by the traffic accident during a school camp in which three children and an adult from the Zeeland municipality died on Thursday afternoon. Mayor Franc Weerwind spoke of a “heartbreaking tragedy.” The police arrested a 19-year-old man from Hulst in connection with the devastating accident.

At around 12:30 p.m., a passenger car collided with a group of 14 cycling children and two adults during their school camp. This happened on the N290 near the Zeeland down of Vogelwarde, in the municipality of Hulst. The primary school in question is located in the municipality of Terneuzen.

“Three people died at the scene of the accident: an adult and two children. Later, a child died in the hospital,” the police said.

Three seriously injured children are still in the hospital. The other adult and children have been taken into care. “Support is being organized for them and their loved ones,” the municipality of Terneuzen said.

Acting Mayor Franc Weerwind of Terneuzen said that he is deeply moved by this “heartbreaking tragedy.” He speaks of a close-knit community in which “many feel this loss intensely.” After the accident, a gathering was held with the parents and siblings of the victims, Weerwind said. He also spoke to the children who were part of the cycling group and were not injured.

Weerwind will visit the primary school that organized the camp on Friday morning. He will meet with teachers and pupils from Group 8 “to talk about this great sorrow.” A council meeting will also happen on Friday morning to discuss “how we can stand by everyone,” Weerwind said.

Weerwind sees “compassion, involvement, and support for the affected families, the school, and everyone touched by this,” and says that thoughts go out to parents, caregivers, and loved ones. “As a community, we stand shoulder to shoulder in this surreal and sad time.” According to the mayor, “all of Zeeuws-Vlaanderen has been affected by this terrible accident.”

The police arrested a 19-year-old man from Hulst for the “very severe traffic accident.” The police did not disclose whether he was the driver of the car that hit the cycling children. The police are investigating.