Blood test results have confirmed that a 26-year-old school bus driver involved in a tragic accident near Châteaudun, France, had consumed cannabis prior to the incident. The findings were released by local judicial authorities on Friday afternoon. The driver, who has no prior criminal record, has been taken into custody, and his detention has been extended.
Initial saliva tests conducted after the crash had already indicated the presence of drugs in the driver’s system. The blood test results further solidified these findings, revealing a cannabis concentration of more than 0.5 nanograms, a level that rules out the possibility of passive exposure. Public prosecutor Frédéric Chevallier stated that the results confirm active cannabis use.
The driver has denied recent consumption, claiming that the positive test could be due to passive exposure. He admitted that his partner regularly uses cannabis and that he occasionally lights her cigarettes, suggesting this might have influenced the results. However, authorities have dismissed this explanation, citing the high concentration of the substance in his blood.
The accident occurred on January 30 at 7:40 a.m. when the bus, carrying 35 students on Route 32B, veered off the road and into a ditch. The driver claimed he swerved to avoid another vehicle that had come too close to his lane. Tragically, 15-year-old student Johanna lost her life in the crash, while 20 others were injured. Fourteen of the injured were initially hospitalized in Châteaudun, but all have since been discharged.
The driver, who had been operating on the route for several years, is now under investigation for involuntary manslaughter and causing injuries. The route connects six educational institutions, and the incident has raised serious concerns about school bus safety in the region.
Local authorities have urged the public to remain cautious as the investigation continues. The tragedy has left the community in mourning, with many questioning the measures in place to ensure the safety of students during their daily commutes.
