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One dead, 28 hurt in traffic accident in Yunnan
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-05-19 16:16

KUNMING - At least one person died and 28 others were injured after their bus overturned in southwest China's Yunnan Province Monday, the local government said Tuesday.

A 30-seat bus carrying 29 people overturned at a section of the Kunchu Expressway in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture at 1:45 pm Monday, the government of Chuxiong said. One passenger was declared dead at the scene.

The driver was seriously injured and was in critical condition. The 27 others injured were hospitalized in stable condition.

At the same section of the highway on April 25, a collision killed 21 people and injured 20 others.

"The site of the accident is a 3.5-kilometer slope with a big turn, and drivers spray water on the wheels to reduce the heat, but the practice makes the road surface slippery," said Bai Yong, a veteran local driver.

The section of the expressway was closed immediately after the accident and reopened to traffic at about 5 pm Monday.

The bus belonged to Dali Traffic and Transportation Co.

Traffic police are investigating the accident.