Twelve-Year-Old Israeli Tourist Killed in French Alps Bus Overturn Incident

A 12-year-old Israeli girl died after a bus carrying 15 Israeli tourists rolled backward and overturned at the Les Belleville ski resort in the Savoie department of the French Alps during the night of Friday, March 27, to Saturday, March 28, 2026. The accident occurred shortly before 1:00 a.m. as the group was departing their hotel to travel to the airport. The vehicle slid several meters backward down a steep slope before tipping onto its side. The prefecture of Savoie confirmed the death and the circumstances of the crash. All 15 people on board held Israeli nationality.

Fourteen survivors treated, two airlifted to Albertville The 14 other passengers aboard the bus sustained minor injuries and were attended to by emergency services at the scene. Bruno Charlot, the sub-prefect of Albertville, confirmed that two of the injured were evacuated to Albertville hospital for further treatment. The remaining injured passengers were cared for at a local medical office near the resort. All those on board were described as lightly injured, with no additional life-threatening conditions reported among the survivors. Emergency services responded to the scene in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Steep alpine slope sent bus sliding before it overturned According to the prefecture of Savoie and statements by Bruno Charlot, the bus traveled several meters backward down a steep slope before overturning and coming to rest on its side. The group of Israeli tourists had been staying at a hotel in the Les Belleville resort, located in the commune of Saint-Martin-de-Belleville. The accident took place as the group was in the process of leaving for the airport, suggesting the bus was in a departure maneuver when it lost control on the slope. The precise mechanical or operational cause of the backward movement had not been confirmed in initial reports. Investigations into the circumstances of the crash were expected to follow.

Savoie authorities confirm details as investigation begins The prefecture of Savoie served as the primary official source for information on the accident, with sub-prefect Bruno Charlot providing details on the injured and their treatment. Albertville, the nearest major town, is located in the Savoie department and served as the site of the 1992 Winter Olympic Games, giving the region a long association with alpine tourism and winter sports infrastructure. The Les Belleville resort draws significant international visitor numbers during the ski season, and the Israeli group appeared to have been concluding a ski holiday at the time of the crash. No information on the identity of the deceased child was released in initial official statements. The Savoie department in southeastern France is a major destination for winter sports tourism, attracting visitors from across Europe and beyond each ski season. The area around Saint-Martin-de-Belleville and the Tarentaise valley is known for steep mountain terrain and winding alpine roads, which present particular challenges for large vehicles such as coaches. Albertville, the administrative center of the arrondissement, hosted the 1992 Winter Olympics, cementing the region's international profile as an alpine destination.