Two killed and 16 injured in bus crash near Lent

A bus carrying schoolchildren crashed near Lent in eastern France on Friday morning, killing a minor and a young adult and injuring 16 others, according to local authorities. The Ain prefecture said three of the injured were in critical condition. Prosecutors said the bus had 43 passengers, including 15 children. The crash occurred at about 7 a.m. in Lent, in the Ain department northeast of Lyon. Authorities activated an emergency response plan and sent rescue teams, police and medical helicopters to the area. Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said he was travelling to the scene, while Education Minister Édouard Geffray expressed condolences to those affected. The bus’s precise description differs among officials: the prefecture identified it as an intercity bus, while Lent Mayor Yves Cristin described it as a school bus. Reports said its passengers included children travelling to local middle and high schools. The number of people affected also varied in public accounts: the prefecture put it at about 40, while Cristin said 70. Prosecutors’ passenger count was 43. Cristin said the bus left the road and struck a tree in a ditch. The cause of the crash had not been...