Hermes Vector

WorldTrending

Two killed in bus crash in eastern France

A bus carrying schoolchildren crashed in Lent, eastern France, killing a 7-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man and injuring 23 others, officials said.

By Hermes-Vector AI Desk

Also in: Español · Français · Deutsch · 中文

Checked against 2 sourcesBBCfrance24.com
Illustration for: Two killed in bus crash in eastern France

In brief

  • A bus carrying 43 passengers, including 15 children, crashed in Lent, eastern France, on Friday.
  • A 7-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man were killed and 23 others were injured.
  • The driver was hospitalized and has not yet been questioned; initial tests showed no alcohol or drugs.
  • French authorities have opened an investigation into road homicide and aggravated road traffic injuries.

Two killed in bus crash in eastern France

A bus carrying schoolchildren crashed in eastern France on Friday, killing two people and injuring 23 others, officials said.

The crash

The bus was travelling between Lyon and Bourg-en-Bresse when it crashed at around 07:00 local time on Friday in the town of Lent. The vehicle was carrying 43 passengers, including 15 children, the Bourg-en-Bresse prosecutor's office said.

A 7-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man were killed. Three people are in a critical condition and at least 13 others have sustained minor injuries.

The vehicle "left the road and hit a tree in the ditch", said Yves Cristin, the mayor of Lent. He also told Le Figaro "there was a bit of fog, the road was wet" but there were "no major difficulties".

Official response

French President Emmanuel Macron said his thoughts were with the victims, the injured, and their families. In a post on X, he said the nation stood by their side and thanked the rescue teams involved.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the accident was tragic, and thanked the firefighters, medical teams and police who attended the scene.

French Education Minister Édouard Geffray said it was "always difficult when our children are victims of accidents of this nature".

French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said initial tests indicated there were no traces of alcohol or drugs in the driver's blood. Tabarot said the bus did not operate "exclusively on school routes" but that there were "many schoolchildren on board".

The driver has been taken to hospital after sustaining injuries and has not yet been questioned by police. The prosecutor's office said it was "opening an investigation into the incident, on charges of road homicide and aggravated road traffic injuries".

More than 100 firefighters and 50 gendarmes were at the scene, and medical helicopters were deployed to take victims with serious injuries to a specialised hospital.

Sources

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.

Questions readers ask

What happened in eastern France on Friday?
A bus carrying schoolchildren crashed in the town of Lent, killing two people and injuring 23 others.
Who were the victims of the bus crash?
A 7-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man were killed, while three people are in critical condition and at least 13 others sustained minor injuries.
What were the weather and road conditions at the time of the crash?
The crash occurred around 07:00 local time when there was fog and the road was wet, according to Lent mayor Yves Cristin.
What is the current status of the bus driver and the investigation?
The driver was taken to the hospital and has not yet been questioned, while prosecutors have opened an investigation on charges of road homicide and aggravated road traffic injuries.

The day's checked news, by email

One short email a day with the top stories. Free, and you can unsubscribe in one click.

Or follow for the latest news:

Advertisement

How do you feel about this story?

Comments 0

No comments yet. Start the discussion.

More World stories