A dramatic incident occurred south of Paris when a trainee bus driver lost control, crashing into a parked car before plunging into the Seine River with passengers and an instructor on board. All four were rescued safely.
International news agencies reported a serious accident in the town of Houilles-sur-Orge, southeast of Paris, France, when a bus plunged into the Seine River on the morning of Thursday, 30 Apr 2020 GMT+7, leaving four people stranded in the water awaiting rescue.
Witnesses said the bus did not turn right as planned but drove straight ahead, hitting a blue car parked by the roadside before both vehicles plunged into the Seine. The crash was so loud that nearby residents initially thought an explosion had occurred.
Rescue forces deployed over 110 personnel, including divers, firefighters, rescue boats, drones, and helicopters, to control the scene and ensure no one else remained trapped in the submerged vehicle wreckage.
During the critical moments, Dorian Legrand, a local rowing club coach preparing for practice, witnessed the event and quickly launched the club’s rescue boat to assist the victims shouting for help.
Legrand told local media, “Two women clung to my boat; they were in shock and unable to swim amid the strong currents.”
Additionally, good Samaritans on a nearby cargo ship helped by throwing life rings to the victims before rescue teams arrived.
A spokesperson for Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM) confirmed the driver was a young woman undergoing "final practical training," closely supervised by an instructor. At the time, there were two passengers aboard, making four people in total—all of whom were safely rescued.
Tests on the trainee driver and instructor were negative for drugs. The trainee is in custody for investigation into the cause. Authorities confirmed there was no risk of pollution leaking into the Seine River.
Lamia Bensarsa Reda, mayor of Houilles-sur-Orge, said she was deeply shocked by the incident, as such accidents had never occurred in the area before, but considered it fortunate there were no fatalities.
The bus and the other vehicle have been recovered from the river, and relevant agencies have ordered an internal investigation committee to determine the exact cause.