The driver of a school coach that crashed in France, killing a teacher, received a suspended jail sentence on 27 March 2015.
Derek Thompson, 50, of Atherstone, Warwickshire, was found guilty of manslaughter and given a six-month suspended term by a court in Chalons-en-Champagne, north-east France.
Peter Rippington, 59, Deputy Head at Alvechurch School in Worcestershire, died in the accident in February 2012 when the coach Thompson was driving left the A26 motorway near Rheims. More than 25 people, including Mr Rippington's wife, were hurt when the bus overturned, some seriously. Steve Ratheram, 53, from Yardley Wood, suffered spinal fractures, a fractured sternum and broken ribs in the crash. The former ski instructor said he felt for the wife and daughter of Mr Rippington.
"My initial reaction is that while I welcome the conviction, the sentence seems very light bearing in mind the seriousness of what happened," Ratheram said.
Cheryl Palmer Hughes of Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, representing 20 children, two teachers and two ski instructors who were injured in the crash, was in court for the verdict. She said it had been "a long process" to find out what happened. "What our clients wanted was an explanation of what happened and then also what people need to learn from what happened."
A court spokeswoman said a full written judgement setting out the court's detailed reasoning will follow "in the future".
The incident has brought into focus for many staff who plan trips the need to ensure that travel plans include suitable and sufficient breaks for drivers of every kind and that full emergency plans are in place to cope with different types of emergency. Handsam are able to assist with all aspects of trip planning and emergency response. If these cause you an concern then please contact us on 03332 070737 or by email at info@handsamschooltripsadvisor.org.uk.
