Bus carrying tourists plunges from overpass near Venice, killing 21
VENICE, Italy – A tragic accident occurred on the outskirts of Venice late Tuesday evening, when a bus carrying foreign tourists crashed through a guardrail and plunged off an overpass, resulting in the deaths of 21 individuals, including several children. Another 15 people were injured in the crash.
Authorities in Italy are currently investigating the cause of the horrific accident. The electric bus caught fire after plummeting more than 10 meters (33 ft) from the overpass in the Mestre district. Among the victims were five Ukrainians, a German, and the Italian bus driver, according to Venice’s prefect Michele Di Bari. The nationalities of the other victims have not been confirmed.
The crash occurred on a typically busy road connecting Mestre to the historic center of Venice and running alongside a railway. The accident happened shortly before 8:00 p.m. (1800 GMT).
Veneto regional president Luca Zaia speculated that the driver might have fallen ill, a theory that is being considered by authorities. Additional information could be provided by witness accounts and CCTV footage.
In addition to the fatalities, several individuals were injured in the crash. Among those hurt were four Ukrainians, two Spaniards, two Austrians, a German, a Croatian, and a French person, said Di Bari. The bus had been transporting the tourists back to a campsite in nearby Marghera after a day out in Venice.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed his condolences to the families of the victims during an interview on Italian television.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud bang and rushed to the site of the crash to provide assistance. Godstime Erheneden, a witness originally from Nigeria, described a woman crying for help and pleading for someone to rescue her daughter. Despite Erheneden’s efforts, the young child appeared to be unconscious and potentially deceased.
The bus involved in the crash was an electric vehicle manufactured by a Chinese company, according to number plate checks. Firefighters are monitoring the wreckage for any potential risks posed by the vehicle’s batteries.
Massimo Fiorese, the head of the bus company operating the vehicle, claimed to have viewed footage leading up to the accident. The video allegedly showed the bus slowing down and almost coming to a halt before crashing through the guardrail and falling. Fiorese speculated that the driver may have been ill, as he had started his shift less than two hours prior to the crash.
Footage of the crash site revealed that the overpass had an old, relatively thin metal guardrail instead of a sturdier concrete version. The area has been sectioned off behind concrete blocks and adorned with yellow flowers in remembrance of the victims.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation as authorities work to determine the exact circumstances that led to the tragic incident.
Reporting by Alvise Armellini and Keith Weir; Editing by Bernadette Baum, Gavin Jones, and Gareth Jones.