Overview
- The medical emergency struck Tuesday evening on the four-lane road between Saint-Vivien and Châtelaillon-Plage as the group returned from a theatre outing in La Rochelle.
- An accompanying adult urged the driver to pull over when he became unwell, with witnesses reporting he vomited blood, according to local officials.
- Teachers called emergency services at 21:21, and firefighters conducted about an hour of CPR before the driver was declared dead.
- Students were moved to Saint-Vivien’s municipal hall and cared for by a doctor and local authorities, with a psychological support unit activated then stood down.
- A Yélo replacement bus transported the group back to the Lycée de la Mer et du Littoral in Bourcefranc-le-Chapus, where families were waiting.