Road accident kills 10 in north China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-13 13:10

TAIYUAN -- Ten people were killed and 26 others injured after a long-distance bus overturned and fell off 20 meters into a roadside ditch in north Shanxi Province Thursday.

Local traffic police confirmed Friday that the accident happened around 3:50 pm when the bus was on its way from Xinzhou, a city in Shanxi, to Hequ, a county in the province, killing 8 people on the spot.

Two more people died later at Hequ County Hospital. Sixteen others that were injured, including the driver Zhang Fujun, were receiving treatment in hospital.

Preliminary investigation found the bus, with a load limit of 31 people, had 26 people onboard before the accident took place. Icings on the road surface caused by a sudden weather change was blamed for the fatal accident.

Driver Zhang Fujun was put under police control for further investigation.

Shanxi Provincial Government Friday set up a special leading group to oversee investigation into the incident, while Xinzhou City also formed a group to handle aftermath arising from the accident.