Child dead as British coach crashes in France

A 15 year-old British schoolchild has been killed and four others seriously injured in a coach crash in France.

A 15 year-old British schoolchild has been killed and four others seriously injured in a coach crash in France.

The vehicle crashed on the A71 motorway about six miles from Vierzon, at 6.25 am local time close to the town of Bourges, according to police spokesman Jean-Pierre Smith.

The coach was reported to have overturned. Gendarmes at the scene said the accident is thought to have been caused by the driver falling asleep at the wheel.

Onboard were children from two British groups - 21 children and six adults from the 41st Edinburgh Boys Brigade, and a party of 19 youngsters and two adults from Chadwell Heath High School in Romford, Essex.

The youngsters had been due to spend a week in the Correze region and had set off the previous evening, the radio station added. Emergency services treated the injured at the scene and those seriously hurt were taken to hospital in Bourges.