When she heard the news, Catherine Desprez immediately went to the scene. To “support and assist” families, she said. Mayor of Surgères (Charente-Maritime) and Vice President of the County Council for Transport, it is directly concerned by the serious accident occurred a school for Thursday in Rochefort. Six teenagers died and several were injured. All the 16 passengers of the vehicle were enrolled in colleges and high schools in his town. All he used to make this trip, St. Peter ron-Surgères, and prepared to follow an ordinary school day.
Since the scene of the accident, the mayor of the small town Charente describes the despair that prevails there.
How did you react to the announcement of the drama?
They are colleagues at the department called me but the news was already circulating on waves. I do not believe that such a tragedy could happen here. When yesterday I heard on the radio the terrible accident in Doubs [two college students were killed in a road accident, Ed], I did not imagine that the next day I will be witnessing the same thing multiplied by three. Six dead, it is a very heavy toll. It’s unimaginable.
How did you feel by visiting the scene of the accident?
When I arrived, the rescue had already done their job . I have not seen the victims. The scene is still very shocking. The bus is very damaged. We imagine the event, we begin to try to think that young people have felt during the accident, the shock which they were confronted. This is unsustainable.
I immediately made with the relatives of the survivors. I am also always on site. Relatives were supported by a psychological unit installed near the scene of the accident. There are doctors, nurses and psychologists. These are families both relieved that their children are alive, and saddened because everyone did not have that chance. What marked me, that’s felt need of parents to hit their son and daughters to squeeze in their arms, to ensure that they are alive.
the families of the teenagers were supported by a psychological unit.
AFP Photo / Mehdi FEDOUACH
What did you say to teenagers who survived?
young people have great difficulty speaking. I myself have struggled to find suitable words. I expressed my sympathy. But it seems that everything that is said is ridiculous and unnecessary.
What do you know of this group of adolescents?
I know, they all go to school in my town of Surgères in various institutions, including vocational school of carpentry, where we learn the trades of wood. There are also some college but in the minority. They all live in Saint-Pierre d’Oléron or in small villages nearby, like St Agnant or Breuil-Magné. They know each other, not necessarily name but at least face, because it is a daily school bus.
I know the victims are all boys, mostly students. We put the half-mast in Surgères and will organize a ceremony paying homage to these young people who have experienced a tragic fate. There are also two young hospitalized but I do not know the severity of their injuries.
What are the elements that have been brought to your attention regarding the circumstances of the accident?
Experts say precisely what he s’ happened. But it seems that this is a contest of abominable circumstances. In two seconds, the tragedy would have been avoided. It seems that a piece of cargo carried by heavy-weight who was passing by came off violently and hit the back of the bus. A priori, there is no human error.
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