One dead and three injured in crash on France's RN57

A head-on crash between a car and a van happened shortly before 5 p.m.

on the RN57 at Vuillecin, near Pontarlier in eastern France.

A 28-year-old passenger in the van died at the scene despite attempts to revive him.

The van was carrying two young men with physical and intellectual disabilities; the other passenger was slightly injured, as was the 58-year-old driver.

The 22-year-old car driver was seriously injured and taken by helicopter to a hospital in Besançon.

The gendarmerie said one vehicle was travelling against traffic, while the town mayor suggested the car may have crossed into the oncoming lane.

The RN57 was closed in both directions while emergency crews worked, and a diversion was set up.

The available reports do not say when the road reopened or describe any further investigation.