British Alvechurch School teacher Peter Ripperton dies in bus accident in France

At least one person was killed earlier today when a bus returning home with  British school kids, who were on a sky trip in Italy, drove off the road when the driver fell asleep.

Fifty-nine year old Peter Ripperton, a teacher at Alvechurch School, in Worcestershire, was killed in the early Sunday morning accident.

Reports say 49 passengers, 20 adults and 29 students, were returning home on two buses after a week’s long ski vacation when one of the coach buses crashed around 3:00 a.m. (local time) near Chalons-en-Champagne.

Ripperton was pronounced dead at the scene.  Five others were seriously injured and 22 suffered minor injuries.

Reports say the bus was returning to the UK  from the Italian resort of Valle d’Aosta.

The driver, who is British, was arrested after suspicions that he may have fallen asleep at the wheel.

Alvechurch School is a Church of England Middle School that caters to students between 9 and 13.

Reports say the other bus returned home safely.