School bus crashes in eastern France, officials report several victims

A school bus crashed in eastern France on Friday morning, with officials reporting “several victims”, according to the BBC.

The crash happened in Lent, north-east of Lyon and around 34 miles (55km) from the Swiss border.

Lent Mayor Yves Cristin told French media that the bus “left the road and hit a tree in the ditch”. The Ain prefecture and Education Minister Édouard Geffray also said there were “several victims”.

Geffray said a school bus was involved. Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said he was on his way to the scene.

Geffray told reporters his thoughts were with the “students involved in the accident”, adding that it was “always difficult when our children are victims of accidents of this nature”.

Emergency services are at the scene, and a helicopter has been deployed.