France Coach Crash: 3 Dead, Several Injured

Coach Crash in France Kills 3, Injures Several

“It seemed like he was trying to rub the barrier, as if he wanted to lose speed, before crashing into the cliff...”

A tourist coach crashed into a cliff in France, resulting in 3 fatalities and several injuries. The cause of the accident is currently unknown.

A devastating coach crash occurred in southern France, resulting in three fatalities and injuring at least 38 others. The accident involved a coach carrying tourists, which crashed into a cliff face near the popular Porte-Puak-Puymorens ski resort.

According to the regional administration, there were 47 people on board the coach, including the driver, when the accident occurred. Unfortunately, seven individuals, including a four-year-old child, sustained severe injuries and were hospitalized for treatment.

Preliminary investigations conducted by local authorities revealed that the coach collided with a cliff, although the exact circumstances surrounding the accident are still unclear. Initial reports suggest that the driver lost control of the vehicle due to a problem with its braking system.

Images released by the local firefighter service provide a glimpse into the devastating coach crash in southern France. The photos show the bus pressed against the side of a cliff, its right side partially crushed and its windshield apparently knocked out.

The rescue effort was a massive undertaking, involving over 120 individuals from neighboring regions, including Catalonia in Spain and Andorra. Helicopters were also deployed to assist in the operation. Notably, Catalonia's emergency services revealed that the bus originated from L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, outside Barcelona, Spain.

A witness to the accident, identified only as Laurent, an off-duty firefighter, shared his account of the events leading up to the crash with the Perpignan-based Indépendant news outlet. Laurent recalled, “We were driving behind. He [the driver] had been zigzagging for a kilometer and a half.” This eyewitness testimony provides valuable insight into the circumstances surrounding the accident.

“It seemed like he was trying to rub the barrier, as if he wanted to lose speed, before crashing into the cliff.”

Jean-Philippe Augé, the Mayor of Porté-Puymorens, expressed his concern over the devastating coach crash, stating: “This is a tragedy, and we have to be cautious about the human toll. It could rise overnight.”

“What I can tell you is that the road in question, the RN320, is not known for being particularly accident-prone.

“It is narrow, of course, and the bend on the descent is a bit sharp, but until now it has never been the cause of accidents of this seriousness.”

To provide support to those affected by the tragic coach crash, Mayor Jean-Philippe Augé has set up a psychological unit in the town's holiday centre. This unit will offer assistance to survivors and their families as they cope with the aftermath of the accident.

The coach had been on a day trip to El Pas de la Casa, a popular Andorran ski resort located approximately 150 miles from Barcelona. All 47 passengers on board had spent the day Christmas shopping before the coach began its return journey to Barcelona.

A spokesperson for the local emergency services provided an update on the rescue operation, stating that five helicopters were involved in the effort to rescue more victims. The spokesperson confirmed that, “So far, three people have died, and eight others are in intensive care in a nearby hospital.” Unfortunately, the injured four-year-old is among those in intensive care.

The coach, which was traveling back to its home depot in Barcelona, was the only vehicle involved in the accident. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but it is believed that the driver lost control of the vehicle due to a problem with its braking system.