De La Salle teachers critically injured in Alpine hit-and-run

Tuesday 28 February 2017

Two De La Salle teachers are said to be in a “critical but stable” condition in hospital after being involved in a hit-and-run accident while on half-term holiday in the French Alps.

A man in his 30s has since been arrested and charged.

The two members of staff – thought to be aged between 25 and 30, who have not been named – had been waiting near a bus stop at around 21:00 local time last Wednesday in the La Clusaz ski resort in Haute Savoie.

The Daily Telegraph reported that a motorist hit them at high speed and then left the scene.

According to Annecy Gendarmerie Commander Guy Lemenu, the hit-and-run driver, “…drove off leaving them for dead. 

“We can tell this as there is debris from the car up to 30 metres from the bus stop.”

“They were clearly thrown high into the air and suffered multiple injuries and broken bones," he added.

Pictured: La Clusaz, the Alpine skiing resort in which the incident occurred. (Image: Google Maps/Bailiwick Express)

The pair were subsequently taken to Annecy Hospital, with the woman later transferred to Grenoble.

Authorities established that the pair were British nationals after a passport was recovered at the scene of the incident.

Police arrested a man in his 30s after identifying his vehicle from the debris. A resident of Aravis, the local mountain range, the driver appeared in court on Saturday for causing involuntary harm. He has now subject to strict bail conditions.

In a statement, Tim Silvester, De La Salle Assistant Headteacher, said that the school does not expect to welcome back the pair until the Summer term, but would await more information from the families.

“The thoughts and prayers of the whole De La Salle community are with both members of staff and their families.

“With God’s grace they will make a complete recovery and be back with us soon.”