Horrific bus and truck crash in southern France 'leaves at least 42 dead'

Lizzie Dearden
The Independent, UK
Fri, 23 Oct 2015 07:15 UTC

© Google Maps

The collision reportedly happened near Puisseguin.

At least 42 people have died in a crash involving a bus and a lorry near the French city of Bordeaux.

Local media reported that the vehicles were travelling along a road in Puisseguin, near Libourne, when they collided and burst into flames at around 7.30am local time (6.30am BST).

The coach involved was full of pensioners on a trip and the emergency services said eight people managed to escape with injuries, the Sud Ouest newspaper reported.

More than 50 firefighters were tackling the blaze as the emergency services responded to the disaster.

The crash is believed to be the worst road accident in France for more than 30 years, since 53 people, including 44 children, died in another bus crash near Beaune in 1982.