Bus-train collision kills 3, injures 85 in northwest China

[News_Editor]

Bus-train collision kills 3, injures 85 in northwest China

2011-03-25 02:13:25 GMT+7 (ICT)

URUMQI, CHINA (BNO NEWS) -- At least three people died and 85 others were injured on Thursday after a train ran into a stalled bus in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The accident occurred near two primary schools and a densely-populated commercial area in the regional capital of Urumuqi City after a bus lost control on a turn at 9:07 a.m. and veered off the road. It slid for more than 20 meters on the snow-covered land, coming to a stop on the railroad tracks after crashing through a fence and knocking down an electric pole.

The three victims were two women and a man, while at least 41 children under age 16 were among the injured, according to sources with the Urumqi Rescue Center.

Treatment of the injured attracted attention from Internet users, with photos going viral through micro-blogs and forums. People crowded in local hospitals to donate blood for the injured, state-run media reported.

The Route 531 bus was heavily damaged in the accident, with windows shattered and seats deformed. However, no one on board was injured.

Residents say that the buses on Route 531, which is contracted to a private company, are not maintained well and are extremely crowded during rush hour.

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