Two killed and 16 injured in bus crash near Lyon, France

An intercity bus crashed into a ditch on Friday morning near the town of Lent in eastern France, killing two passengers and injuring 16 others. The vehicle was carrying students traveling to local schools when the accident occurred.

The Prefecture in the Ain region confirmed that one minor and one young adult died in the crash. Authorities stated that 16 people sustained injuries, with three of those victims suffering serious harm. Emergency services and law enforcement officers were dispatched to the rural scene immediately after the collision.

Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot traveled to the site to assess the damage. In a post on X, he described the incident as a serious bus accident located in a rural area northeast of Lyon. He noted that multiple casualties had been reported at the scene.

BFM TV reported that the passengers included children bound for middle and high schools in the vicinity. A photograph taken at the scene showed the bus had left the roadway and come to rest in a ditch. The prefecture stated that an accident involving an intercity bus had occurred with multiple casualties.

Education Minister Édouard Geffray addressed the media during a visit to a high school in the Paris region. He said his thoughts were with the families of the victims, expressing the government's concern. He described it as a difficult moment for the education community when children are victims of such an accident.