Tragic Bus Accident in Val Thorens, France, Kills 12-Year-Old Israeli Girl as Tourist Bus Flips

A tragic bus accident unfolded overnight in Val Thorens, France, after a bus carrying Israeli tourists veered off the road, resulting in the death of a 12-year-old girl and injuring multiple other passengers.

The accident occurred around 12:45 a.m. on Saturday, March 28, near the Kashmir Hotel, as the group was preparing to leave the resort for the airport. For reasons still under investigation, the bus began rolling backward before descending an embankment in the resort. Due to a reported technical issue, the driver was not on board the bus, leaving the vehicle uncontrolled. According to the public prosecutor, the driver had exited the bus after it failed to start. “He then got out of the bus to operate a circuit breaker at the battery,” the statement read. At that point, “the bus began to back up, hit a wall and overturned.” The 12-year-old “was ejected from the vehicle whose doors had remained open. She found herself stuck under the latter and emergency services confirmed her death at the scene.”

“The teenager was thrown from the bus before being run over by it. She did not survive,” Savoie police said. 14 passengers were on board at the time. Several sustained minor injuries and were treated by emergency responders. Two were transported to a hospital in Albertville, while eight others received treatment at a local medical clinic, according to sub-prefect Bruno Charlot.

A large-scale emergency response was launched, with around 45 firefighters deployed to the scene. Crews worked through the early morning hours to secure and remove the vehicle.

The deceased girl has been identified by Israeli news as Tamar Haberfeld from Haifa, Israel.

The public prosecutor has opened an investigation into the exact cause of the incident, with early indications pointing to a mechanical or technical failure during the maneuver. The driver was taken into police custody, where he tested negative for alcohol and narcotics. He is expected to be brought before a judge on charges of vehicular manslaughter.

Val Thorens — Europe’s highest ski resort — is part of the Les 3 Vallées ski area and is reached via a steep, winding alpine road that climbs from Moûtiers at 465 meters (1,526 feet) to 2,300 meters (7,546 feet). Legally, drivers must carry snow chains or have winter tires when traveling in the French Alps from November to April.