The accident of Beaune , which took place the July 31st 1982, is the most fatal road accident in France. It did 53 died including 44 children from 6 to 15 years in a bus, all originating in the area of Crépy-in-Valois in the Oise.

The accident

Whereas they went in summer camp to Savoy to Aussois, these people were taken in an accident which turned to the drama. We are in the night of July 31st, it east is approximately 1:45 of the morning. It rains, circulation is dense.

Two bus are followed on a6 highway in direction of Lyon. During a deceleration, two cars are folded back between the two buses. The bus of head must abruptly slow down because it arrives on the “funnel” (zone where the highway passes from 3 to 2 ways) and which it is gene by a German bus. The second bus strikes the second car which strikes the first to go to finish its race in the first of the two buses. The tank of a car is broken and emptied before the gasoline does not blaze up. 6 vehicles take fire. The first because will be evacuated by the drivers and the monitors. A side exit is blocked by a car embedded in the second bus. Two monitors manage all the same to make leave about fifteen children by the back the vehicle but 44 remained wedged inside the bus with the two drivers and two monitors. 5 other people whose two infants perished in the accident in the cars (it there did not have survivors in the two implied cars).

Consequences of the accident

The Minister for Transport of the time, Charles Fiterman, decided to take measures. Since this drama, there exists a year-end stipulating a prohibition to make travel by the means of public transport a group of children (of more than 15 children of less than 15 years) of the July 28th to the August 4th as well as the days of big departures. This prohibition was taken for all the groups whose destination is a department other than the starting department or a department bordering. The maximum speed authorized for the bus was reduced, and one in rainy weather fixed speed on highway at 110 km/h (and to 80 km/h on roads). Moreover, since this event obligation is made to the manufacturers use fireproof materials in transport in commun runs and of the windshields of laminated glass.

Following the lawsuit, the owner was condemned to 1 one-year suspended sentence and with 25.000 francs of fine because the bus had defective brakes. As for one of the drivers, he was condemned to 6 months of suspended sentence, one year of suspension of license and 2.300 francs of fine.

A memorial was set up on the surface of Curney in the vicinity immediate of the place of the accident (commune of Merceuil).

External bonds

• Tv news of the 7/31/1982

• Tv news of the 8/1/1982