Seven confirmed dead after bus rolls in north China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-02 14:50

HOHHOT -- Seven people were killed and 31 others injured Sunday when a bus rolled in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, local work safety authorities said.

The accident occurred around 4 p.m. when the bus tried to avoid a motorbike but hit it on a highway in Harqin Banner, Chifeng City.

The two people on the motorbike died as did one other person who was riding a battery-powered bicycle which was also hit by the bus. Four other people from the bus also died.The fate of the bus driver is still unknown.

The injured were taken to two local hospitals in Inner Mongolia, according to the local work safety authority. Three people were seriously injured.

Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regional Administration of Work Safety confirmed Monday that the bus, which was heading for Baoding City, Hebei Province, had 34 seats. There were 33 passengers aboard when the accident occurred.

Police are investigating the cause of the crash.