The bus, carrying about thirty teenagers, went off the road on a snowy part of the road …
At least two dead and seven injured. This is the terrible toll of the serious accident involving a school bus which took place Wednesday morning at Montbenoit, Doubs.Two teenagers aged 12 and 15 died. The prognosis of seven injured is not yet known, said the chief of staff of the prefect of Doubs.
The bus went off the road on a snowy part of the roadway and would collided with a car at the town Montbenoit on the D437, between Pontarlier and Morteau, reports L’Est Républicain.
#Doubs Deux adolescents sont morts dans un accident de car scolaire https://t.co/5WGd9jQRke pic.twitter.com/qohhse3Ulh
— BFMTV (@BFMTV) February 10, 2016
Some 33 teenagers on board
The school bus was going to the Lucie Aubrac college in the town of Doubs (near Pontarlier), the ministry of Education.
Accident mortel d’un car scolaire dans le doubs par 20Minutes
According to the deputy principal of the college, Franck Lucea, 33 teenagers were in the car, “students for the college and Lycée.”
The road is now cut and fifty firefighters are present. Christine Bouquin, President (UMP-UDI-variety right) Doubs County Council, the prefect of the department and the sub-prefect of the district of Pontarlier are expected on site, reports France 3 Franche-Comté .
A special number set up
A hotline for families has been set up by the hospital Pontarlier: 0805090125.
[Urgent] Accident de bus scolaire dans le #Doubs : @prefet25 a ouvert un numéro vert pour les familles >> 0 805 090 125 ????
— Gouvernement (@gouvernementFR) February 10, 2016
The Prime Minister and the Interior Minister have expressed their emotion after this tragic accident.
Manuel Valls expressed his “immense sadness at the deaths of two college students in a school bus accident in Doubs” on his Twitter account.
Bernard Cazeneuve, meanwhile, expressed his “emotion” in a statement.
Immense tristesse après le décès de deux collégiens dans un accident de bus scolaire dans le Doubs. Tout notre soutien va aux familles.
— Manuel Valls (@manuelvalls) February 10, 2016
[Communiqué] @BCazeneuve : vive émotion après le décès de 2 adolescents dans un accident de car dans le #Doubs pic.twitter.com/QGgC6gzCVn
— Ministère Intérieur (@Place_Beauvau) February 10, 2016
Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, the Minister of Education sent his “condolences and all (its) support to the injured, their families & educational teams” .
Accident dans le Doubs : mes condoléances et tout mon soutien aux blessés, à leurs proches & aux équipes éducatives. pic.twitter.com/jvzcmABQIe
— Najat Belkacem (@najatvb) February 10, 2016
President Hollande also expressed his condolences to the families. “I address the bereaved my sincere condolences and assure them of the solidarity of the entire nation” , said the President of the Republic, in a statement.