Coach driver 'sorry' for crash

Katherine Fish was killed in the accident

The driver of a coach which overturned in France, killing a 15-year-old girl and seriously injuring nine others, has said he is "deeply sorry" for the accident.

Mark Chisholm, 31, from Edinburgh, told the Scotsman newspaper: "I have a teenage daughter of my own and I cannot imagine what the parents of the girl who died are going through.

"I am deeply sorry for what happened."

I have a teenage daughter of my own and I cannot imagine what the parents of the girl who died are going through

Driver Mark Chisholm

He added: "I definitely did not fall asleep at the wheel. I told the doctors and the police that as soon as I was able to talk to them."

Mr Chisholm is being formally investigated on charges of manslaughter, involuntary injury and careless driving.

The coach was taking 43 teenagers and eight adults to a week-long cultural trip to Barcelona when it overturned on one of France's busiest motorways early on Thursday morning.

Most of the party, from Largs Academy in Ayrshire, have returned to Scotland where four pupils are believed to have been taken to hospital for further treatment.

'Sudden swerve'

A spokesman for North Ayrshire Council said the three members of staff - one of whom lost an arm in the accident - and four of the pupils were expected to fly back on Saturday night.

Two remaining pupils are expected to spend a third night in hospital in France.

Doctors in France said Mark Nicol, 14, was under sedation in intensive care as surgeons worked to reconstruct his crushed left arm, a procedure which could take a week to complete.

The family of Katherine Fish, who was killed in the crash, paid tribute to a daughter who "lit up our lives every day".

Mr Chisholm was visited in hospital by a judge to formally open the investigation on Friday.

Education chief John Travers has remained in France

Dijon's local prosecutor Jean-Pierre Alacchi said Mr Chisholm is believed to have swerved after realising at the last moment that he was on the wrong road.

He said Mr Chisholm had not fallen asleep at the wheel.

The judge will decide at a later date whether the charges recommended against Mr Chisholm will actually be bought.

The company which owned the bus, Allan's Coaches of Gorebridge, near Edinburgh, said Mr Chisholm and his co-driver Tony Cowley were both experienced drivers who were used to driving at night.

The bus was on a non-stop 33-hour journey from Calais to Barcelona, with the drivers sleeping on board in between shifts.