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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| French coach crash kills pilgrims | French coach crash kills pilgrims |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| At least 26 people have died in a coach crash near the south-eastern city of Grenoble in the French Alps. | At least 26 people have died in a coach crash near the south-eastern city of Grenoble in the French Alps. |
| The coach, carrying Roman Catholic pilgrims from Poland, fell into a ravine while descending a steep incline between Grenoble and Gap. | The coach, carrying Roman Catholic pilgrims from Poland, fell into a ravine while descending a steep incline between Grenoble and Gap. |
| It broke through the safety barrier, fell 15m (50 ft) onto the banks of a stream, and burst into flames. About 20 passengers were also injured. | It broke through the safety barrier, fell 15m (50 ft) onto the banks of a stream, and burst into flames. About 20 passengers were also injured. |
| The coach was returning from the shrine of Notre-dame-de-la-Salette. | The coach was returning from the shrine of Notre-dame-de-la-Salette. |
| The coach, which came from Poland and was on its way back, was carrying 49 passengers and two drivers. | The coach, which came from Poland and was on its way back, was carrying 49 passengers and two drivers. |
| Dangerous | Dangerous |
| Skid marks on a long stretch of tarmac suggest that the brakes failed. | Skid marks on a long stretch of tarmac suggest that the brakes failed. |
| class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6910856.stm">Pictures of crash scene Local people brought buckets of water to put out a fire on the bus before emergency services arrived in force. | |
| The injured were shuttled to hospital by ambulance and helicopter. | The injured were shuttled to hospital by ambulance and helicopter. |
| A number of people are reported to be missing. Passengers may have been thrown out of the bus and into the river, firefighters said. | A number of people are reported to be missing. Passengers may have been thrown out of the bus and into the river, firefighters said. |
| Hugh Schofield in Paris says the busy mountain road is known to be dangerous and there have been several accidents there in the past. | Hugh Schofield in Paris says the busy mountain road is known to be dangerous and there have been several accidents there in the past. |
| Investigators will want to know if the Polish coach was in a proper state and if it was fitted with the electronic braking system compulsory for excursions into the mountains, our correspondent adds. | Investigators will want to know if the Polish coach was in a proper state and if it was fitted with the electronic braking system compulsory for excursions into the mountains, our correspondent adds. |
| The shrine at Notre-dame-de-la-Salette is where the Virgin Mary is believed to have appeared to two children in 1846. | The shrine at Notre-dame-de-la-Salette is where the Virgin Mary is believed to have appeared to two children in 1846. |
| Are you in the area near the accident? Send us your comments using the form below. | |