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British teacher dies in school coach crash in France | British teacher dies in school coach crash in France |
(40 minutes later) | |
A British man has died after a coach bringing Worcestershire pupils home from a skiing trip crashed in France. | A British man has died after a coach bringing Worcestershire pupils home from a skiing trip crashed in France. |
Children from Alvechurch School were among 49 people on the coach, which crashed near Chalons-en-Champagne, in northern France. | Children from Alvechurch School were among 49 people on the coach, which crashed near Chalons-en-Champagne, in northern France. |
The man who died was a 59-year-old teacher, named locally as Peter Rippington, and the UK Foreign Office said his next of kin had been informed. | |
Up to five people were seriously hurt and 22 suffered minor injuries. | |
Second coach returned | Second coach returned |
There had been 20 adults - including two drivers - and 29 children on board. | |
The Foreign Office said four or five people - including children - had been seriously or critically injured. All the casualties were being treated in hospital. | The Foreign Office said four or five people - including children - had been seriously or critically injured. All the casualties were being treated in hospital. |
A consular team was sent to the scene and the British Ambassador to France, Sir Peter Ricketts, was also due to visit, a spokesman said. | |
There had been two coaches in the party travelling back, and the other one has arrived back at the school. | |
Alvechurch is a Church of England middle school, with pupils' ages ranging from nine to 13. | Alvechurch is a Church of England middle school, with pupils' ages ranging from nine to 13. |
Michael Darby, 16, who was taught maths for four years by the teacher, had come to the school with his mother to lay flowers as a tribute. | |
He told the BBC: "He was a wonderful man, he was firm but fair." | |
Local councillor June Griffiths said: "There is one youngster who is critically ill and I believe there are two other girls with serious injuries, so we need to make sure that the parents of those children can get out to them. | |
"The community is in shock - the school has been going on these holidays and has been waving the children goodbye year after year and they've been coming back safely." | |
Travel company Interski said in a statement on its website that those unhurt were being cared for at a sports complex in the region. They were receiving attention from the French Red Cross, which was providing psychological support. | Travel company Interski said in a statement on its website that those unhurt were being cared for at a sports complex in the region. They were receiving attention from the French Red Cross, which was providing psychological support. |
Another coach is travelling back to the UK with some of the party who have suffered minor injuries. | |
Interski said the coach, which was returning to the UK from the Aosta Valley, Italy, left the motorway and came to rest at the bottom of an embankment. | Interski said the coach, which was returning to the UK from the Aosta Valley, Italy, left the motorway and came to rest at the bottom of an embankment. |
The firm, which organised the trip, said the accident happened at about 02:30 GMT (03:30 local time) on the A26 motorway, near Chalons-en-Champagne in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, on the road between Troyes and the port of Calais. | The firm, which organised the trip, said the accident happened at about 02:30 GMT (03:30 local time) on the A26 motorway, near Chalons-en-Champagne in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, on the road between Troyes and the port of Calais. |
'Veered into ditch' | |
Six ski instructors from the company were among those on board, the Mansfield-based firm added. | |
The vehicle involved was owned by Solus Coaches, which is based in Tamworth, Staffordshire. | The vehicle involved was owned by Solus Coaches, which is based in Tamworth, Staffordshire. |
The BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris said: "It seems the coach was the only vehicle involved. It veered into the ditch at the side of the road and it was a very serious accident." | The BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris said: "It seems the coach was the only vehicle involved. It veered into the ditch at the side of the road and it was a very serious accident." |
Police said initial tests on the driver, who was slightly injured, showed he was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. | Police said initial tests on the driver, who was slightly injured, showed he was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. |
Officers were investigating whether the driver might have fallen asleep at the wheel, our correspondent added. | Officers were investigating whether the driver might have fallen asleep at the wheel, our correspondent added. |
A spokeswoman for Alvechurch School said: "There is no further information at this stage. We are liaising with the police and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office." | A spokeswoman for Alvechurch School said: "There is no further information at this stage. We are liaising with the police and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office." |
People in the UK who are worried about relatives and friends should call the Foreign Office's helpline on 0207 008 1500. | People in the UK who are worried about relatives and friends should call the Foreign Office's helpline on 0207 008 1500. |
Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the coach crash? You can get in touch using the form below: | Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the coach crash? You can get in touch using the form below: |