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Bus crash in Italy, at least 38 dead

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They were too young to die :( RIP

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...0208095/Italy-bus-crash-at-least-38-dead.html

Italy bus crash: at least 38 dead

At least 38 people, many of them children, have died when the bus they were travelling on careered through a concrete barrier on a flyover in southern Italy and plummeted 98 feet.

38 dead after coach plunges off flyover
Cause of accident unclear - driver thought to be dead
Several children feared to be among the dead

italy-coach-crash-_2629571c.jpg


Rescuers worked in darkness to pull about 9 survivors – reported to be seriously injured - from the wreckage of the bus under the viaduct in Monteforte Irpino in the Campania region. But they were also recovering corpses which they lined up under white sheets.

The crash occurred on the A16 motorway in the province of Avellino. About 48 passengers were thought to be on board the bus.

Early reports suggested the bus was carrying pilgrims back from the shrine of Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo in Puglia. Later reports said they were on their way back from a holiday. Many of the victims were reportedly from the town of Giugliano in Campania.

The bus careered through a concrete barrier on a flyover and plummeted 98 feet (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

italy-coach-bus-wi_2629589c.jpg


Rescue workers on the viaduct above rushed to secure loose pieces of shattered concrete from the barrier which threatened to fall onto the bus as the first attempts to find survivors got underway below in the dark.

italy-coach-map_2629577c.jpg


Eyewitness reports quoted by Sky Italia suggested the bus was travelling at a normal speed as it entered the flyover when a tire blew. The bus reportedly struck other vehicles, injuring their occupants, before the bus driver steered into the concrete barrier to avoid any further collisions, only for the barrier to give way. Other reports suggested the bus had suffered a brake failure as it entered the flyover.

italy-coach-bus-se_2629591c.jpg


A photographer at the scene said that cars had been hit by the coach as it crashed, and that several vehicles were piled up together.

“Looking down from the overpass, the scene of the tragedy: some 30 bodies covered by white sheets, lined up along the roadside,” said Cesare Abbate of Italy’s ANSA news agency.

Firefighters said that they had extracted 37 bodies - most of the dead were found inside the mangled bus, which lay on its side , while a few of the victims were pulled out from underneath the wreckage, the Italian news agency ANSA said.

italy-coach-crash-_2629568c.jpg


Four children had been resuced alive from the wreckage of the coach.

Occupants of cars which were hit by the bus stood on the highway near their vehicles. One car's rear was completely crumpled, while another was smashed on its side. It was not immediately known if anyone in those cars had been injured.

italy-coach-crash-_2629566c.jpg


From time to time, rescue workers called for "a moment of silence" to listen for signs of life from the wreckage, according to an AFP photographer at the scene.

"Our priority now is to free the wounded," a police spokesman said.

“The situation is critical,” head fireman Pellegrino Iandolo told SKY TG24 television. “Our men are working to save as many lives as possible.”

italy-coach-bus-st_2629590c.jpg


The driver was among the dead and several of those injured were children, La Repubblica newspaper and Corriere della Sera daily reported.

Efforts to free people from the wreckage were hampered by the location of the coach, which had landed in a patch of heavy undergrowth.
 

Bazza

Member
This is just mental, over 100 people killed in 2 incidents on public transport within a week. Worst little run of accidents in Europe i have seen in a while. Lets hope this is the last.
 
oh shit :(


Brakes my heart. I take the bus often through crazy terrain like skyovers. I didn't imagine a blowed tire could cause this mayham!
 

Desiato

Member
Just awful. A similar accident happened about a year ago with a bus crash of Belgian school children in Switserland. I feel really bad for parents that have something like this happen to their kids. RIP :(
 

cyberheater

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Another terrible bus accident.

I have to admit. If I can possibly help it. I won't travel by coach anywhere ever again. Especially not holiday related.
 

Row

Banned
a plane, 2 trains, and now a bus...lots of awful news lately regarding transportation accidents
 

Jasup

Member
My condolences to everyone affected by this tragedy.

Looking at the wreckage it's hard to believe some people survived that. I hope speedy recovery for them.
 
That's... not good at all. Sounds like it was out of the driver's control given the blown tire, which I imagine is really bad in a big ole' bus.
 

pubba

Member
I've never seen a pic of coffins at an accident site before. That's really odd. Maybe a Euro thing? In Australia the bodies are loaded onto stretchers and taken away.
 
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