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Bus Crash in Southwestern France Kills 42 Bus Crash in Southwestern France Kills 42
(about 1 hour later)
PARIS — Forty-two people were killed and eight others were injured on Friday morning when a bus and a truck collided on a road in southwestern France, according to local officials. PARIS — Forty-two people were killed and eight others were injured on Friday morning when a bus and a truck collided on a road in southwestern France. Officials said it was the country’s worst traffic accident in 33 years.
A statement from the Élysée Palace said that the “terrible accident” had taken place on the D17 secondary road near the village of Puisseguin, close to the city of Libourne and about 35 miles east of Bordeaux. The crash took place around 7:30 a.m. near the village of Puisseguin, close to the city of Libourne and about 35 miles east of Bordeaux. According to the authorities, a truck that was used to transport wood swerved at a curve on a rural road and struck a bus, causing both vehicles to burst into flames.
The truck, which was used to transport wood, swerved at a curve in the road and struck the bus, causing both vehicles to burst into flames. Sixty firefighters were reported to be at the scene, trying to bring the blaze under control. According to the prefecture in Bordeaux, the bus was traveling to Arzacq-Arraziguet from Petit-Palais-et-Cornemps, about five miles north of Puisseguin, a total distance of 120 miles. Xavier Sublett, the mayor of Puisseguin, told reporters that the bus driver had seen the truck approaching but was unable to avoid the collision. The driver managed to open the doors of the bus at the last minute, allowing some of the passengers to flee, Mayor Sublett said, and he survived.
Of the 50 people involved in the crash, 42 were killed and eight were injured. Two of the wounded sustained head injuries and two others were burned, while four were lightly injured, the prefecture said in a statement. Prime Minister Manuel Valls, speaking to reporters in Puisseguin, called the accident “horrifying” and added: “We have not seen such a catastrophe on our roads for over 30 years.”
“The circumstances of the accident are unknown at the time being,” the statement said, adding that many emergency workers were on the scene. Mr. Valls said a police investigation into the causes of the accident would start immediately.
Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve also headed to the scene, as did Alain Juppé, a former prime minister who is now the mayor of Bordeaux.
Dozens of firefighters and other emergency workers descended on the crash site to bring the blaze under control and take away the dead and the injured. According to the prefecture in Bordeaux, the bus was traveling to Arzacq-Arraziguet from Petit-Palais-et-Cornemps, about five miles north of Puisseguin, a total distance of 120 miles.
Of the 50 people involved in the crash, 42 were killed and eight were injured. Two of the wounded sustained head injuries and two others had burns, while four were lightly injured, the prefecture said in a statement.
The causes of the crash were not clear, but Gilles Savary, a Socialist member of the National Assembly for the Gironde department, said that the local road network was in good shape and was regularly maintained.
Pascal Romain, a council member in Petit-Palais-et-Cornemps, said that the passengers on the bus were members of the town’s seniors club. “It is a real tragedy because it is a very small town, and everybody knows one another,” he said.Pascal Romain, a council member in Petit-Palais-et-Cornemps, said that the passengers on the bus were members of the town’s seniors club. “It is a real tragedy because it is a very small town, and everybody knows one another,” he said.
President François Hollande said in a statement, “It is an enormous tragedy.” On Twitter, he said that the government was “totally mobilized.” Gilles Clion, 57, the owner of a restaurant in the town, said it was in a state of shock.
“Their cars are still parked on the town square, they had all gathered there to take the bus,” he said in a telephone interview. “I recognize some of the license plates, and I know that there will be people I know among the dead. We have no news so far because the list of the passengers was with the president of the club in the bus.”
Mr. Clion said that his mother, sister and brother-in-law had all planned to join the outing but had canceled at the last minute. The club had planned an excursion in the southern region of Béarn that included a ham tasting at lunchtime, Mr. Clion said.
“It is a huge blow here, because everybody knows each other,” Mr. Clion said. “Many families are afraid that one of their relatives has died.”
The Road Safety Association said the disaster was the country’s worst road accident in France since one that killed 53 people, including 44 children, near Beaune, the wine capital of Burgundy, in July 1982.
“It is an enormous tragedy,” President François Hollande said in a statement. On Twitter, he said that the government was “totally mobilized.”
Mr. Hollande, who was in Greece for a state visit, said at a news conference in Athens that catastrophe was “not too strong a word” to describe the accident.Mr. Hollande, who was in Greece for a state visit, said at a news conference in Athens that catastrophe was “not too strong a word” to describe the accident.
“We must offer our greatest compassion to the families, share the grief, but also get to know everything about the circumstances of this accident, and provide emergency help because it is still necessary,” Mr. Hollande said. “I am experiencing great sadness.”“We must offer our greatest compassion to the families, share the grief, but also get to know everything about the circumstances of this accident, and provide emergency help because it is still necessary,” Mr. Hollande said. “I am experiencing great sadness.”
Prime Minister Manuel Valls and Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve headed to the scene, as did Alain Juppé, a former prime minister who is now the mayor of Bordeaux.
If the initial death toll is confirmed, Radio France reported, it would be the worst road disaster in France since one that killed 53 people, including 44 children, near Beaune, the wine capital of Burgundy, in July 1982.