Millas Accident: Bus Driver Sentenced to Five Years in Prison, Two of Which Are Effective

The School Bus Tragedy Results in a Harsher Sentence on Appeal
On February 7, 2025, the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal delivered its verdict in the case of the tragic Millas accident, where a school bus was struck by a train at a level crossing in December 2017. Nadine Oliveira, the driver of the bus, was sentenced to five years in prison, including two years of actual imprisonment, a harsher sentence than the one imposed at first instance, where she had been given five years in prison, with one year served under electronic monitoring. In addition to the prison sentence, the court also revoked all of her driving licenses, forbidding her from retaking the driving test for five years, and prohibited her from working in the transport sector.

Six Schoolchildren Die in Collision with the TER, Testimonies Question the Driver’s Version
The tragedy occurred on December 14, 2017, when six schoolchildren were killed, and 17 others were severely injured in the collision between the bus and a TER train. Since the beginning of the investigation, Nadine Oliveira has maintained that the barriers at the level crossing were raised when she crossed. However, several testimonies have cast doubt on this version. Motorists who witnessed the incident claimed to have seen the bus “push the barrier, like opening a door,” while a schoolgirl seated at the front of the bus described the vehicle “hitting the barriers” before being struck by the TER.

During the appeal hearing, the president of the court, Fabrice Naude, emphasized the severity of the accident, reminding everyone that “six children lost their lives” and urging all parties to show dignity and restraint when the decision was announced. Several families of the victims traveled to Aix-en-Provence to attend the trial, while the hearing was also broadcast live at the Perpignan courthouse for those who could not be present. This case has deeply impacted the public, and the court’s decision reverberates with the human tragedy it caused.