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Train, bus in dice of death
09/03/2008 20:37 - (SA)
Buenos Aires - A passenger train slammed into a double-decker bus at a rural Argentine rail crossing before dawn on Sunday, killing 19 people and injuring at least 47, said authorities.
The train was travelling from the Argentine capital to the south Atlantic beach resort of Mar del Plata when the collision took place near Dolores, about 200km south of Buenos Aires, said the government news agency, Telam.
Roberto Capiel, a public health official, told Telam that 47 people with injuries were taken to a local hospital for treatment. He said nine of them were in critical condition.
Television footage showed wreckage of the overturned bus with its front windshield shattered and much of its roof sheered off. Crumpled bus seats, children's clothing, a baby bottle and beach chairs were left scattered across the railway line after the accident, which took place about 02:00 local time.
Bus passenger Cecilia Demarco told Noticias Argentinas that the bus "tried to beat the train" to the crossing, despite repeated warnings from the train as it sounded its hooter.
A Todo Noticias broadcast showed images of a crushed motorcycle under the debris and said authorities reported that a woman waiting on a motorcycle at the crossing was among the dead.
A survivor on the train who identified himself only as Alejandro told the network he was preparing to go to sleep when the collision happened.
61 passengers, two drivers
"I heard this tremendous crash and everything shook" said the witness. "There were many screams and all of this in the dark."
Police said the bus, which was going from the south Atlantic beach resort of Mar de Ajo to the capital, was carrying 61 passengers and two drivers.
Authorities said there were at least 30 serious injuries reported on the bus, and at least 15 train passengers and the two train drivers had minor injuries.
Buenos Aires provincial governor Daniel Scioli visited the crash site and said he was saddened by the "horrendous accident."
"It's just devastating, so tremendously sad," Scioli said.
Authorities said the train's drivers told investigators that the crossing barriers were down when the bus unexpectedly tried to cross the tracks ahead of the train.
As Scioli watched bulldozers preparing to push away twist tracks and other debris, he promised an exhaustive investigation.
- AP
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