Eight killed as train slams into wedding-party bus
Eight wedding guests were killed after a train in southern Romania slammed into a bus that was taking them home today.
The accident happened at a level crossing in the village of Gura Ocnitei some 50 miles north of Bucharest at 3.50am Irish time.
The train smashed into the left-hand side and the middle of the bus, dragging it 300 meters, police said.
Five people died immediately, and three died en route to hospital, national news agency Rompres reported.
Some 24 people have been taken to hospital, with nine in a serious condition, police said.
Eye witnesses quoted by Realitatea TV said that passengers alerted the driver that there was a train on the track, but he appeared not to heed the warning.
The driver was among the dead. The bus was taking back more than 30 people to their home from a wedding in a nearby village.
Romania’s top police officer Dan Fatuloiu arrived at the scene of the accident later today, with other officials. An investigation is under way.
