Bus Crash in Ain: Two Children Killed, 16 Injured
Emergency crews deployed 102 firefighters and four aircraft to a rural scene north-east of Lyon following the morning collision.
By Samantha Reed ·
A bus slid off the road into a ditch near the town of Lent in eastern France on Friday morning, killing two young passengers.
French authorities confirmed that one child and a young adult died in the collision. The prefecture for the Ain region reported that 16 other individuals sustained injuries. Among those hurt, three were listed in serious condition.
The accident involved an intercity bus, according to the local government statement. However, Yves Cristin, the mayor of Lent, told BFM TV that a school bus was part of the incident. Cristin arrived at the scene minutes after the crash and described the immediate aftermath. "I arrived minutes after the accident and people were in shock," he said. He noted that the side of the vehicle had been torn away, suggesting severe impact on that side.
French media outlets reported that passengers included children traveling to local middle and high schools. A photograph taken at the site showed the bus resting in a ditch after leaving the roadway. The town responded by opening its community hall to shelter and care for the victims.
The emergency response involved a large deployment of resources. The prefecture stated that 102 firefighters, four aircraft, and eight ground-based medical teams were present at the rural location north-east of Lyon. Law enforcement officers also secured the area.
National leaders commented on the tragedy via social media. Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot stated he was traveling to the site following a serious bus accident. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu posted that two children lost their lives. He expressed the government's thoughts to the families and thanked the mobilized emergency staff.
Education Minister Edouard Geffray spoke from the sidelines of a visit to a high school in the Paris region. He described the event as a difficult moment for the education community and offered condolences to the families of the students.
