A bus driven by a trainee plunged into France’s River Seine this morning after crashing into a parked car.
The driver is said to have made a handling error after missing her turn while leaving the Juvisy bus station, according to local media.
There were four people on board, including the instructor and two passengers, when the incident happened at 9.30am local time (8.30am BST).
All were rescued, with passers-by rushing to their aid as the vehicle started to sink. Officials did not provide details on their condition.
One of those pulled from the water was helped aboard a nearby houseboat.
From her houseboat, Natacha said she heard a woman screaming in the water and threw her a lifebuoy.
‘She grabbed it. Two people helped me pull her up the ladder, and then she was taken care of by the police and firefighters,’ she said.
‘She was very shocked, freezing, and had a hand injury. The poor woman thought she was going to die.’
A bus carrying passengers has plunged into France’s River Seine near the town of Juvisy following a collision with another vehicle
Divers were seen walking along the bus which was at the bottom of the river
One source said: ‘Two boats are patrolling the water to ensure that no one else needs rescuing’
There were four people on board, including the driver’s instructor and two passengers, when the incident happened at 9.30am local time (8.30am BST)
The bus dragged the parked car into the river near Juvisy, a commune eight kilometres southeast of Paris
Towing teams remove a bus from the Seine river after it fell with passengers on board into the river
‘The bus was leaving the bus station when the driver lost control and hit a parked car,’ explained the mayor of Juvisy-sur-Orge, Lamia Bensarsa Reda
The bus dragged the parked car into the river near Juvisy, a commune eight kilometres southeast of Paris.
The car was unoccupied at the time, according to reports.
Later in the morning, the bus could be seen submerged under water, close to the riverbank, with the car floating nearby.
Members of a rowing club who were on the river were among the first to help those in the water, witnesses said.
‘The bus was leaving the bus station when the driver lost control and hit a parked car,’ explained the mayor of Juvisy-sur-Orge, Lamia Bensarsa Reda.
Reda said she was ‘stunned’ by the accident.
‘It’s the first time I’ve seen anything like this. I think I’ve just experienced the worst day of my life.
‘Luckily, there were no casualties thanks to the quick response of the police and emergency services,’ she said.
Images show emergency crews including a fire engine, rescue boats and a helicopter at the scene.
One source said: ‘Two boats are patrolling the water to ensure that no one else needs rescuing.’
Rescue teams remove a car from the Seine river
Pictured: A car and a bus can be seen in the water as rescue teams work at the scene
Images show emergency crews including a fire engine, rescue boats and a helicopter at the scene
According to a police source, the driver did have a D license, which is required to drive such a vehicle
According to a police source, the driver did have a D license, which is required to drive such a vehicle.
Following the incident, local transport links have been heavily disrupted.
‘The challenge now is to keep traffic flowing smoothly and allow emergency services and the police to work in the best possible conditions,’ Reda added.
‘They reacted very quickly and were able to get people to safety.’
An investigation is expected to be launched to determine exact cause of the incident as quickly as possible.
This is a breaking news story, more to follow.
