Nine people were killed when a tour bus crashed near an Oregon interstate. The bus crashed through a guardrail and fell 100 feet, killing several and injuring at least two dozen others.
The tour bus was traveling on Interstate 84 in Oregon on Sunday when it veered out of control on the icy road at around 10:30 a.m., according to the Associated Press. The area where the bus fell happens to be called "Deadman's Pass," as severe weather conditions can make the roads slick and cause poor visibility. Drivers are warned to take extreme caution while driving in this area.
The bus was carrying about 40 people when it went flying off the cliff. Nine of them were killed and 26 others were taken to St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton to be treated for injuries like broken bones. Some had to be transported to other medical facilities for further treatment for more serious injuries.
Dozens of rescue workers had to use ropes to descend down the hill to rescue the victims. One of the survivors was the bus driver, but he was among the injured.
The bus was in the upright position when it was found and there were little signs of debris near it.
The tour bus is owned by Mi Joo travel, based in Vancouver, Canada and the passengers were on a tour of the Western U.S. It was headed from Las Vegas back to Vancouver when it crashed. The company owns six buses and they have had no accidents at least in the past two years, according to records.
Despite the accident, Dan Ronan, a spokesman for the American Bus Association assured people that bus travel is safe.
"The industry as a whole is a very safe industry," Ronan said, according to the Associated Press. "There are only a handful of accidents every year. Comparatively speaking, we're the safest form of surface transportation."
The bus crash wasn't the only accident on Interstate 84 on Sunday. A 69-year old man died when his car rolled over about 30 miles west of where the bus fell.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
