Two people were killed and 16 were injured—three of them seriously—in a traffic accident involving a school bus that occurred on Friday morning (November 6) in the Lent area and the city of Ain in eastern France. In total, the bus was carrying 43 people, including 15 minors.
The two fatalities (a 7-year-old girl and an 18-year-old) were confirmed by French Transport Minister Philippe Tabaro, who clarified that there are approximately 20 others with serious injuries. Other reports indicate that at least four of them, aged 18 to 45, are in critical condition. At the same time, Tabaro emphasized that the young driver of the vehicle tested negative for drugs.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The accident occurred around 7 a.m. on the D22 provincial road, at the Lan exit heading toward Péronnas (Péronnas), when the bus veered off the road, struck a tree, and ended up in a ditch.
SEE ALSO: Tragedy in France involving children: Two dead and at least 16 injured after a bus crash
Accident de car dans l’Ain: "Un drame absolu qui frappe notre commune", déclare le maire de Lent https://t.co/3NzQgEZgxB
— BFM (@BFMTV) November 6, 2026
According to available information, the bus was a white and blue vehicle belonging to the Car Région regional transit network, which was transporting students to an area located about ten kilometers south of the city of Bourg-en-Bresse.
— BFM (@BFMTV) November 6, 2026
ALERTE INFO Accident de car dans l’Ain, 70 personnes impliquées https://t.co/OMwiYWcEoW https://t.co/wufULJVFpF
In a statement, the Bourg-en-Bresse Prosecutor’s Office reported that the bus driver is hospitalized and that “he has not yet given a statement.” “The investigation into the case of the arrest in the act, as well as the charges of manslaughter by traffic accident and causing serious bodily injury by traffic accident” has been assigned to the Investigations Division (SR) of the Lyon Gendarmerie. The bus, operated by Keolis, runs regular routes between Dompierre-sur-Veyle and Bourg-en-Bresse.
“Students were getting off the bus; some were screaming and crying.”
The account of one of the first people to arrive at the scene of the accident is shocking.
“A traffic accident occurred on the morning of Friday, November 6, at the La Lan exit, heading toward Peronne. A white and blue Car Région bus veered off the road and ended up in a small ditch,” he initially reported.
As he described, even before he approached the vehicle, he realized that something serious had happened.
“I was one of the first people to arrive at the scene. Before I even got close to the bus, I noticed debris from tree branches on the road. When I arrived, several students were starting to get out of the vehicle. Some were screaming and crying. The scene was particularly shocking. “I immediately contacted the police to report the accident,” said the eyewitness.
“This is an absolute tragedy that has struck our municipality,” said Yves Christine, mayor of Lent, on BFMTV. “The accident occurred at a point on the road where there are no significant hazards,” the mayor noted.
“The road was slightly wet, and we don’t understand why the bus veered out of its lane, crossed into the oncoming lane, and ended up in the opposite ditch,” he continued. “Unfortunately, there was a tree in its path, and it was that tree that made the accident so tragic.”
The mayor of Lan, Iv Kristensen, also rushed to the scene of the accident and described the situation he encountered upon his arrival.
“When I arrived, there were two victims in cardiac arrest—a child and an adult,” he said by phone.
The mayor of the small community of about 1,500 residents appeared deeply moved by the tragedy.
“My thoughts are with the victims and their families, as well as all those lives that have been turned upside down,” he said.
Immediately after the accident, a large rescue force, police officers, and local authorities were mobilized, and two helicopters also participated in the operation. The three seriously injured individuals were transported to Lyon, as confirmed by Prefect Louis-Xavier Tiron.
At the same time, the Departmental Operations Center (COD) was activated to coordinate crisis management, and the municipal civil protection plan was implemented.
The village’s community hall has been made available to accommodate and support the families and victims of the accident.
French Transport Minister Philippe Tabaro is also expected to visit the site. Authorities have urged citizens to avoid the area, while traffic restrictions and detours are in place to facilitate the work of rescue crews.
Source: Proto Thema
