42 people die in bus and truck collision in southern France
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At least 42 people died when a bus carrying elderly day-trippers collided head-on with a truck and caught fire near Bordeaux early on Friday, in France's worst road crash in more than 30 years.
Another eight people were injured in the collision on a country road near Puisseguin in the Gironde region about 60km (35 miles) east of Bordeaux, the local prefect's office said in a statement.
The bus was carrying about 50 pensioners south to the Bearn region from their homes in the village of Petit Palais and surrounding hamlets, all just a few kilometers away from the crash site, said officials.
President Francois Hollande, speaking on a visit to Athens, said he had been "plunged into sadness by the tragedy" and Prime Minister Manuel Valls and other ministers were heading to the crash site.
Another eight people were injured in the collision on a country road near Puisseguin in the Gironde region about 60km (35 miles) east of Bordeaux, the local prefect's office said in a statement.
The bus was carrying about 50 pensioners south to the Bearn region from their homes in the village of Petit Palais and surrounding hamlets, all just a few kilometers away from the crash site, said officials.
President Francois Hollande, speaking on a visit to Athens, said he had been "plunged into sadness by the tragedy" and Prime Minister Manuel Valls and other ministers were heading to the crash site.