A seven-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man were killed in eastern France on Friday when a bus carrying schoolchildren crashed after its driver fell asleep.
Three people were in critical condition while around 20 others had less serious injuries in the Friday morning accident near the village of Lent, Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said. A 17-year-old survivor said the bus was littered with shattered glass and blood, with tree branches protruding inside and broken phones scattered throughout.
The 26-year-old driver, who is in police custody, told authorities he must have “dozed off”, said prosecutor Karine Malara.
They were being cared for at the town hall, where a psychological support unit had been set up. The deadliest road disaster in France took place in August 1982 when a motorway pile-up caused several vehicles to catch fire, including a coach carrying children on their way to a summer camp. The tragedy claimed a total of 53 lives, including 46 children.
A victim support group said many people were “in shock”.
An investigation into homicide by vehicle had been opened.
