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UberEats bicycle courier struck and killed by coach in Brussels

08:45 06/02/2023

An investigation has been launched after an UberEats bicycle courier was struck by a coach and killed in the Brussels neighbourhood of Schaerbeek, leaving behind a pregnant wife and five children.

The 38-year-old courier was trapped beneath the FlixBus vehicle for some time and died at the hospital after emergency services responded to the accident.

“We have ordered various investigative tasks such as the analysis of CCTV images and the hearing of witnesses,” Willemien Baert, spokesperson for the Brussels public prosecutor's office, told La Capitale.

“A car expert has also been appointed and the vehicles involved in the accident have been seized for further investigation.”

Sultan Zadran, an immigrant of Afghan descent, was struck at the intersection of Boulevard Roi Albert II and Place Solvay in Schaerbeek.

The Brussels fire brigade had to lift the back of the bus and cut through the bicycle in order to rescue the victim, who was trapped under the vehicle. After being taken to the hospital in critical condition, he died overnight.

Authorities from the Brussels-North police zone said the accident likely occurred as a result of the cyclist being in the bus driver’s blind spot, though he was in a bike lane, but the exact circumstances of the collision are under investigation.

The bus driver did not appear to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Baert said.

Zadran’s pregnant wife and five children had planned to join him in Belgium under a family reunification visa.

He had been living in the Saint-Gilles neighbourhood and in Belgium overall for almost a decade.

His family first fled to Pakistan after the Taliban took over in Afghanistan, where the rest of his relatives currently reside, according to a cousin living in Belgium who spoke with La Capitale.

The victim was an active member of the Brussels Warriors Cricket Club.

“He was one of our best players,” his cousin said. “Sultan took our club from the third to the second division.”

The Brussels Warriors Cricket Club has launched a fundraising drive to help financially support Sultan's family.

A lawsuit against FlixBus is also currently being considered.

Written by Helen Lyons