Three dead and eight injured in horror smash as tourist coach crashes into cliff in France
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A tourist coach has crashed into a cliff near a popular Ski resort leaving three dead and several injured.
The accident happened yesterday afternoon near the Pyrenees ski resort of Porté-Puymorens, near the boarder with Andorra.
The bus was carrying 48 passengers and overturned on the RN320 road after colliding with the cliff.
French media reports eight people including a child have reportedly been injured.
The damaged bus was towed by a truck in Porte-Puymorens following its accident en route from Barcelona to Andorra
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The Spanish damaged bus towed by a truck in Porte-Puymorens, southern France
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A local emergency spokesman said: "Five helicopters are involved in an operation to rescue more victims."
“So far, three people have died, and eight others are in intensive care in nearby hospitals...One of those in intensive care is a four-year-old child who was travelling with his parents."
The coach was on its way back to its home depot in Barcelona following a day trip to Andorra when the incident happened and was the only vehicle involved.
It is believed that the driver lost control of the coach following a problem with its brakes.
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The damaged bus being towed away
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An off-duty firefighter, told the Perpignan-based Indépendant news outlet: "We were driving behind. He [the driver] had been zigzagging for a kilometre and a half.
"It seemed like he was trying to rub the barrier, as if he wanted to lose speed, before crashing into the cliff."
Mayor of Porté-Puymorens Jean-Philippe Augé, the said: "This is a tragedy, and we have to be cautious about the human toll. It could rise overnight.
"What I can tell you is that the road in question, the RN320, is not known for being particularly accident-prone. It is narrow, of course, and the bend on the descent is a bit sharp, but until now it has never been the cause of accidents of this seriousness"
French Gendarmerie officers, members of the Toulouse pediatric team and emergency services operate from the makeshift command post in Porte-Puymorens
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Didier Carponcin, sub-prefect of the Pyrenees-Orientales holds a press conference
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Augé said a ‘psychological unit’ had been set up in his town’s holiday centre, to help survivors and their families.
All of those on board the coach had spent the day Christmas shopping in El Pas de la Casa, the Andorran ski resort, which is about 150 miles from Barcelona.
French transport minister, François Durovray said on X: "My thoughts are with the families of the victims and all those injured.
“I would like to commend the commitment of the emergency services, security services, and local authorities in the face of this dramatic situation. I am following the situation closely – safety on our roads remains an absolute priority.”
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