42 dead in French bus collision, in country's worst road accident in 30 years

42 are dead in France's deadliest road accident in 30 years
(Image credit: Mehdi fedouach/AFP/Getty Images)

On Friday, a truck and bus carrying about 50 pensioners collided on a narrow road near Bordeaux, France, and at least 42 people died when the bus burst into flames. The mostly elderly passengers, apparently all French, were on a day trip to the Landes region, south of Bordeaux, from their home village of Petit Palais, not far from the crash site in the Gironde region. President Francois Hollande, in Greece for talks, said he had been "plunged into sadness by the tragedy," Reuters reports. According to French media, it was the worst traffic accident in France in more than 30 years. BBC News has more information in the video below. Peter Weber

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.