Spain: More than 14 killed in student’s bus crash near Barcelona

Emergency services' members work at the site of a coach crash that has left at least 14 students died at the AP-7 motorway in Freginals, in the province of Tarragona, northeastern Spain, 20 March 2016 EPA
Emergency services’ members work at the site of a coach crash that has left at least 14 students died at the AP-7 motorway in Freginals, in the province of Tarragona, northeastern Spain, 20 March 2016 EPA

Officials in Spain say at least 14 people have been killed after a bus carring foreign university students crashed near Barcelona.

Around 30 people are also believed to have been injured when the coach carrying more than 50 slammed into the central reservation of the AP7 highway in northeast Catalonia.

Jordi Jane, a spokesman for Catalonia province, said the students were part of the Erasmus overseas exchange programme, and had travelled to Valencia to take part in the renowned “Fallas” fireworks festival.

They were returning to Barcelona when the bus crashed near Freginals, halfway between Valencia and Barcelona, he said, as emergency rescue workers were still working to clear the wreckage.

Firemen work at the site of a coach crash that has left at least 14 students dead at the AP-7 motorway in Freginals, in the province of Tarragona, northeastern Spain (EPA)
Firemen work at the site of a coach crash that has left at least 14 students dead at the AP-7 motorway in Freginals, in the province of Tarragona, northeastern Spain (EPA)
Emergency services personnel stand at the scene of a bus accident (AP)
Emergency services personnel stand at the scene of a bus accident (AP)

There’s no confirmation yet on the nationality of those killed and wounded, though reports in Spain described them as hailing from “several” different countries.

Mr Jane said initial investigations appeared to show the bus had hit the right-hand side barriers of the highway before cartwheeling across the road and slamming into the central fence.

Dramatic images from the scene showed the vehicle had ended up landing on its side, with its windows shattered.

The bus driver was being held at a police station in the city of Tortosa, Mr Jane said. Road conditions were good at the time of the crash and an investigation was looking into the cause of the accident, he said.

 

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