Two Dead, Dozens Injured in Mountain Bus Crash Near French-Andorran Border

4 December 2024 – bySaid@Bladi · 1 min read

A tragic bus accident occurred last Sunday on a mountain road in the Pyrénées-Orientales, in Porté-Puymorens. The vehicle, which was carrying 48 people, suddenly left its lane before hitting a cliff. The toll is heavy: two dead and many injured. Among the passengers was a Moroccan national.

The bus was making a trip between Barcelona and Pas-de-la-Case, in Andorra, a locality known for its duty-free shops. Most of the travelers were Colombians residing in Spain. A Spaniard and an Ecuadorian were also on board, as well as an MRE.

For reasons still undetermined, the bus deviated from its trajectory around 5 p.m., while it was traveling at an altitude of more than 1,600 meters. Witnesses reported seeing the vehicle zigzagging before the impact. The impact was of rare violence, tearing off an entire side of the bus.

The Spanish driver was seriously injured. He has not yet been able to be heard by the investigators. Toxicological analyses were carried out. The Marseille public prosecutor’s office, specialized in collective accidents, opened an investigation for "involuntary manslaughter by deliberate violation of a particular obligation of prudence or safety".

Several injured people are still hospitalized, in France and Spain.

Category: France

Keywords:

Barcelona Accident Moroccan Living Abroad