Five killed in Belgium bus crash

Five people were killed and several injured after bus comes off bridge in Antwerp, Belgium.

09:47 16 April 2013

A bus carrying Russian schoolchildren crashed through barriers and fell off a bridge in Antwerp, Belgium, resulting in the death of 5 people as of time of writing. The bus, which was heading to Paris, was carrying 42 people, mainly teenagers and a few others believed to be in their early twenties.

The victims, whose names are not released as of time of writing, include the driver, the tour guide, and three teenagers. Reportedly, two people are critically injured and another three are in serious condition in a local hospital.

Although it is still unclear what caused the accident, police and investigators are supposedly looking at whether the driver may have fallen asleep. This is because of the absence of braking skid marks on the road.

Lode Hofmans, the mayor of Broechem, said that they are now receiving several calls from Russia and that they are preparing themselves to deal with the parents of the crash victims.

He added, as reported by The Telegraph: "They were on their way to Paris, but it is still unclear whether it was a school or youth club trip. At the moment we are already inundated with calls from Russia, the news is apparently already seeping through."