Eight dead after Greyhound bus and truck crash head-on in New Mexico
One of the lorry's tyres burst, sending its trailer with produce into a bus on the other side of a New Mexico dual carriageway.
Friday 31 August 2018 20:47, UK
At least eight people have died and dozens are seriously injured after a Greyhound bus and an articulated lorry crashed head-on in the US.
Three children are among those hurt in the collision which happened on Interstate 40 in New Mexico, near the Arizona border.
The lorry - called a semi-truck in the US - was driving east on the dual carriageway on Thursday afternoon when one of its tyres burst, sending its trailer carrying produce across the central reservation and into oncoming traffic, New Mexico State Police said.
It smashed into the front of the passenger bus, which had 48 people on board.
Ten people are being treated at University of New Mexico Hospital, including three adults who are in intensive care - one in a critical condition.
The injuries range from head trauma to spine fractures and other broken bones.
Authorities are working to identify those killed through fingerprints and other means.
"Initial investigations shows that a semi-truck was travelling eastbound on I40 when it blew out a tire. The semi-truck then lost control," a police spokesman said, before confirming the truck and bus "collided head-on".
Passing motorists described a chaotic scene, with people screaming and passengers on the ground.
Video from the scene shows the trailer of the truck overturned, the crumpled bus and debris across the floor.
The trailer had ripped open and partially collapsed, with its cargo spilling out.
The vehicles are on what appears to be a grassy verge, suggesting the collision pushed them off the road.
A large number of emergency services staff can be seen, with one carrying a spinal board.
Passing motorist Eric Huff told reporters the trailer was upside down and "shredded to pieces", and the front of the Greyhound bus was smashed, with many of the seats pressed together.
Part of the side of the bus was torn off, he added.
Truck driver Santos Soto III saw people crying on the side of the road.
"I was really traumatised myself, because I've been driving about two years and I had never seen anything like that before," Soto said.
"I'm a pretty strong person and I broke down and cried for at least 30 minutes."
Greyhound said the bus was heading from Albuquerque to Phoenix.
"We are fully cooperating with local authorities and will also complete an investigation of our own," a Greyhound spokeswoman said.