School bus crashes into tree in Lent, eastern France, with several injured

The crash

A school bus ran off the road in Lent, a commune in the Ain department of eastern France, at around 07:00 local time on 6 November 2026. According to Le Parisien, as reported by Greek outlets, the vehicle left the D22 provincial road, struck a tree and came to rest in a ditch beside it. The bus was operating an intercity service and was carrying several children among its passengers. Lent lies in the area near Lyon, and the crash was reported across several European news sites within the hour. Sources say the conditions in which the driver lost control of the bus are not yet known.

Casualty figures

Reports on the number of casualties differ. Yves Christen, the mayor of Lent, told AFP that two people had suffered cardiac arrest and that many others were injured. A Greek report that cited Le Parisien said two people had lost their lives, attributing the figure to the same mayor. The prefecture of Ain confirmed that there were several victims but did not give figures or their condition. Education Minister Edouard Geffray also spoke of several victims, and no official death toll had been published in the reports available.

“Several people have been injured.”

Emergency response

The prefect activated the departmental operations centre, known as the COD, to coordinate the crisis agencies responding to the crash. Firefighters, rescuers and police were deployed to the site, and two helicopters were used in the operation, according to Greek reports. Local mayors were also helping with the rescue. Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said he was on his way to the scene, and Greek outlets reported that he was expected to be briefed there on the progress of the operation. Authorities asked members of the public to stay away from the area so that rescue crews could work unhindered. Traffic diversions were in place on the surrounding roads.

What remains open

Treating the injured and establishing how the crash happened are the immediate priorities for investigators and emergency services. The Greek reports said the exact number of victims and their condition had not been confirmed, and that the circumstances in which the driver lost control had not been established. No further details about the children on board, including their number or condition, appeared in the reports available. Officials have not yet said when more information will be released, and the figures for casualties may change as the operation continues.