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| Briton dies in school bus crash | Briton dies in school bus crash |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A British man died when a coach carrying UK schoolchildren home from a skiing trip crashed in France, the Foreign Office has said. | A British man died when a coach carrying UK schoolchildren home from a skiing trip crashed in France, the Foreign Office has said. |
| Pupils from Alvechurch School in Worcestershire were among 49 people on the coach, which crashed near Chalons-en-Champagne, in northern France. | Pupils from Alvechurch School in Worcestershire were among 49 people on the coach, which crashed near Chalons-en-Champagne, in northern France. |
| Local sources said the man who died was 61. Up to five people were seriously hurt and 22 suffered minor injuries. | Local sources said the man who died was 61. Up to five people were seriously hurt and 22 suffered minor injuries. |
| The UK Foreign Office said the man's next of kin had been informed. | The UK Foreign Office said the man's next of kin had been informed. |
| It has sent a consular team to the scene. The British Ambassador to France, Sir Peter Ricketts, will also be visiting the scene later, a spokesman said. | It has sent a consular team to the scene. The British Ambassador to France, Sir Peter Ricketts, will also be visiting the scene later, a spokesman said. |
| Among those on board were 20 adults - including two drivers - and 29 children. | Among those on board were 20 adults - including two drivers - and 29 children. |
| 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. |
| 'Veered into ditch' | 'Veered into ditch' |
| Travel company Interski said in a statement on its website that those who are 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 who are 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. |
| A second coach is travelling back to the UK with some of the party who have suffered minor injuries. | A second 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. |
| It happened at about 02:00 GMT (03:00 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. | It happened at about 02:00 GMT (03:00 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 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. | |
| 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: |