Tragedy in the French Jura on Wednesday. When there is black ice, five boarding school students in the French Jura mountains come off the road with their car and fall into an icy lake. Only one occupant managed to get out of the sinking car and sound the alarm in the accident near Champagnole on Wednesday afternoon, the broadcaster BFMTV reported.
The drama happened at Fontenu, BFMTV learned from police sources. The driver lost control of his vehicle on an icy road late in the afternoon, which then crashed into Lake Chalain.
Despite the best efforts of the police and fire brigade, four students died. The victims were 15 to 19 years old and all boarders in the high school in the provincial town of Champagnole.
Father posts pictures of deceased son
Among the fatalities is 19-year-old Clara D.*, who loved to play football at a local club. “She was always very courteous and always present at our events,” said the club’s president to “Voix du Jura”. He last saw her at the handover of the Panini albums in December. The teenager always liked to organize things and was always present at meetings.
Her teammates mourn the girl on Facebook. “To our Mbappe at the club. The girls will remember your hyperactivity on the field or even at our boozy evenings. (…) Thank you for these few months in our club, we will never forget these moments with you.»
Clara D. was also a member of a judo club in the past. She was combative and always laughed, according to the club’s Facebook page. “We have no words to express our sadness at this tragedy.”
Emmanuel U.*, a handball player, did not survive the accident either. His father posts numerous pictures on Facebook showing his deceased son doing sports. “I’m not used to posting messages on the ‘old’ network, like my Emmanuel said, but this morning, with a trembling hand, I’m posting these few photos of your passions.”
His handball colleague, Frederic S.*, was also in the car – he didn’t survive the accident either.
“Everyone is shocked”
Minister of Education Jean-Michel Blanquer spoke of a drama that he was thinking of relatives and friends. The school authorities stand by the environment of the victims.
As Prefect David Philot told the broadcaster, the road along Lake Chalain was completely icy and the car was out of control. Unlike the rest of the road, there were no trees at the scene of the accident, so the car fell down. “We are really facing a drama, everyone is shocked.”
Great sadness before school
The car was recovered on Wednesday morning. The police pulled the car out of the lake and then transported it away. The road has no winter service and is therefore neither cleared nor salted in the cold months. The road leads among other things to a campsite.
A sad picture presents itself in front of the Collège in Champagnole. Flowers were hung on the fence of the high school, the grief is great. The local sports clubs are also mourning. “We lack the words to describe how sad we are,” writes one association. “Our thoughts are with the families,” says another club.
investigations started
Investigations into the exact course of the accident had been taken up. According to the information, only the driver was of legal age.
The surviving student was taken to a hospital with hypothermia. The dead were recovered and also transported to the hospital for identification. As reported by the broadcaster France bleu, psychological care should be set up at the high school concerned. (dus/zis/man/SDA)