A bus driven by a trainee driver collided with a parked car and plunged into the Seine River near Paris on Thursday, prompting a major rescue operation that saved four people, authorities said.
Incident Details
The accident occurred in the town of Juvisy-sur-Orge, southeast of Paris, when the bus veered off the road and entered the river, according to prosecutors. The driver and three other passengers were rescued, and police have launched an investigation into the incident. Officials did not disclose the condition of those rescued.
Driver and Vehicle
The bus was operated by a trainee driver in the final stages of her instruction, said a spokesperson for the IDFM transport authority. Both the trainee and her supervising driver tested negative for drugs and alcohol. The bus was scheduled to be recovered from the water later in the day, the spokesperson added.
Rescue Efforts
Emergency services deployed several rescue boats, a drone, and helicopters as part of the recovery operation. Sixteen fire engines with more than 30 firefighters, along with dozens of police officers, were involved, the prefecture reported. The bus was completely submerged near a bridge, and the parked car struck by the bus also ended up in the river, according to an Agence France-Presse journalist.
Witness Accounts
A witness named Elisabeth, who asked that her last name not be used, told AFP she saw the bus sweep the other vehicle as it went over the edge. “Instead of veering to the right, the bus went straight on and dragged a car down with it,” she said. Bystanders rushed to a nearby barge and threw life rings before emergency services arrived. Another witness, Amine, said he feared a bomb had gone off when he heard the loud crash. “I felt like every firefighter in the department was there,” he added.
The investigation continues as authorities work to determine the cause of the accident.
