The tragic accident occurred this Sunday, around 4:45 p.m., near a pedestrian crossing in Genk. The motorcyclist and his passenger hit a cyclist. The driver of the motorcycle and the cyclist died on the spot, while the passenger of the motorcycle was seriously injured.
The biker, a 40-year-old man, was from Lanaken. The cyclist came from Genk and was 85 years old. Both died at the scene of the accident.
The Limburg public prosecutor’s office has been notified and an expert has been appointed to determine the exact circumstances of the accident.
While the exact circumstances are still not known, what is certain is that the emergency services very quickly arrived at the scene of the tragedy. And one of the first to come to the aid of the victims is Tom Vermosen, a soldier. “There was only one car in front of me when the accident happened,” he testifies in the columns of the Gazet van Antwerpen.
“I immediately stepped aside to see if I might help. Several people had stopped and got off, but they didn’t dare go towards the victims,” Tom explains further. “Another car arrived. The woman behind the wheel screamed and mightn’t bear to see these victims,” he adds.
The soldier immediately ran towards the nearest victim, it was the cyclist. “I immediately took a tourniquet with me in case something needed to be tied. The cyclist stopped moving and was obviously in serious condition. I mightn’t feel his pulse anymore. Then I focused on the other victims. Unfortunately, I also quickly realized with the biker that my help would be insignificant at that time, ”says Tom.
He then focused on the only victim still alive, the lady who was in the back of the motorcycle. “My main concern was that she didn’t pass out. So I continued to talk to him until the first responders arrived. While they were doing the ER, I kept his head still. I only left when it was completely in the hands of the rescue teams,” says the soldier. He then went to rinse near a fire truck. “I was covered in blood. I just hope the lady makes it. But it’s really a huge drama, ”concludes the soldier and father.
