The driver of the van was sentenced to three years in prison and his uncle, the owner of the vehicle, to four, according to a report by Swiss public television, RTS.
The driver, now 22, and his 44-year-old uncle were tried for “manslaughter” and “deliberate breach of an obligation of safety or care”. Their lawyers say they won’t appeal.
The court also revoked their driving licences for five years. The two men are banned from undertaking any activity related to passenger transport.
On March 24, 2016, a vehicle heading from Romont in western Switzerland to Portugal for the Easter holidays crashed, killing its 12 passengers – all Portuguese nationals residing in Switzerland.
The van had been equipped to accommodate more passengers. One little girl had even travelled on her parent’s lap, according to the report.
It collided head-on with a truck. The accident occurred in the town of Montbeugny, in the Allier region of central France.
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Swiss vehicle crashes in France, killing 12
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A vehicle heading from Switzerland to Portugal for the Easter holidays crashed on Thursday night, killing all 12 passengers – all Portuguese nationals residing in Switzerland.
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Swiss public broadcasters RTS and SRF are drastically reducing their communications via the social network X (formerly Twitter).
Israel: president of Swiss universities rejects academic boycott
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Luciana Vaccaro, president of Swissuniversities, the umbrella group of Swiss universities, is not in favour of an academic boycott of Israeli universities.
First large-scale alpine solar plant approved in Switzerland
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The approval was met with satisfaction by the project's organisers, but it also brings with it a certain amount of pressure.
Medieval squirrels may have ‘helped spread leprosy’
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An examination of squirrel remains in the United Kingdom has opened up interesting questions and possibilities in terms of the history of the disease.
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Switzerland’s long-term efforts to improve road safety have been acknowledged by the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC).
Switzerland to introduce Europe’s first drone traffic control system
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The system aims to prevent accidents involving drones in Swiss skies. A tests phase will start in June 2018, reported the Swiss News Agency on Monday.
Nearly 30 people per day rescued in air operations
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The demand for emergency air lifts is on the rise, says Swiss air rescue service Rega. In 2017, it operated 12,660 flights – a 6.5% increase on 2016.
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