Trainee Bus Driver Plunges Vehicle into River Seine with Four Aboard
A trainee bus driver in Juvisy-sur-Orge, approximately 20km south of Paris, drove a vehicle into the River Seine on Thursday morning. The incident occurred after the bus struck a parked car and left the road.
Officials confirmed that all four people on board, including the trainee and a supervising driver, were rescued from the water. L'Esson prefecture reported that over 90 firefighters, divers, and police participated in the recovery operation.
Drug and alcohol tests conducted on the driver returned negative results, with the cause of the incident currently under investigation. The local transport authority, Île-de-France Mobilités, stated the driver was nearing the completion of her practical training. The president of Île-de-France Mobilités has ordered an internal inquiry into the crash.
Local politician Claire Lejeune thanked emergency services for their rapid response. Juvisy-sur-Orge Mayor Lamia Bensara Reda noted the driver 'lost control' near a station close to the riverbank. Eyewitnesses described the bus missing a turn and 'dragging a car down with it'. Bystanders reportedly threw life rings into the water before emergency services arrived.
Rescue efforts included multiple boats, a drone, and helicopters. The bus and the accompanying car were later retrieved from the river.
