Twelve people have been killed after a minibus collided with a truck in central France, local authorities said have confirmed.
Terrible accident sur la RCEA dans l'#Allier : 12 morts dans un choc frontal https://t.co/LgMPyZMnq6 pic.twitter.com/633t9AMBzG
— La Montagne (@lamontagne_fr) March 25, 2016
The accident happened on Route Nationale 79 near to the town of Moulins just before midnight Thursday.
Local officials said the minibus swerved into the path of oncoming traffic and collided head-on with the truck.
Minibus-truck crush in France kills twelve people https://t.co/iXmB5MSHdt pic.twitter.com/eaQtv2nmSr
— TRT World (@trtworld) March 25, 2016
The minibus was carrying a group of 12 Portuguese nationals who were traveling back to Portugal after a trip to Switzerland.
“The 12 passengers of the minibus, who were all Portuguese, are dead,” a statement from the local authority said.
The driver of the minibus survived the crash and was transported to hospital. The two Italian drivers of the truck survived the crash with with minor injuries.
Terrible accident sur la RCEA dans l'#Allier : 12 morts dans un choc frontal https://t.co/LgMPyZMnq6 pic.twitter.com/633t9AMBzG
— La Montagne (@lamontagne_fr) March 25, 2016
12 killed as minibus collides with truck in #France https://t.co/7mp5qQEz4J pic.twitter.com/h7fRcxyOie
— dwnews (@dwnews) March 25, 2016
According to La Montagne newspaper, a child and his parents were among those who died.