14 dead, 40 hurt in Shandong as bus rolls trying to avoid another accident
Another 40 hurt as coach driver tries to avoid another bus that had been hit by a car
At least 14 people were killed when an overloaded coach swerved to avoid an accident and crashed into a ditch alongside a highway in Shandong province yesterday - the last day of the eight-day national holiday.
More than 40 passengers were injured.
State media reported that the accident occurred on the Qingdao-Yinchuan Expressway in Zibo city. The bus had a maximum capacity of 53 passengers, but authorities did not say how many were on the bus.
CCTV reported that the accident happened at midday when a car in the opposite lane hit another bus, causing that bus driver to lose control and veer into oncoming traffic. The driver of the second bus swerved to avoid the first bus and rolled into the ditch.
Xinhua reported that six people were confirmed dead at the scene, and eight died later. No injuries were reported in either the car or the other bus.
The crashed bus was bound for Qingdao , Shandong.
Police were still investigating the accident, and the section of highway was closed for a few hours before reopening.
Meanwhile, five people died on Saturday when a petrol tanker exploded after it crashed into a barrier at Huaihua city in Hunan province. The driver, a passenger and three three firemen were killed. Two other firemen were injured.
