Switzerland Bus Crash Kills 22 Children, 6 Adults

A bus crashed into the wall of a tunnel in Switzerland on Tuesday night, killing 22 children and six adults. Another 24 children were injured in the crash.

CNN reports that three children are currently hospitalized in critical condition. Jean-Pierre Deslarzes, medical chief of the Canton Valais rescue organization, said that several other children are in the hospital but are expected to be discharged in the next few days.

The Chicago Suntimes reports that police are currently undergoing the heartbreaking task of identifying the bodies. Police spokesman Jean-Marie Bornet told The Associated Press:

“Where possible, the bodies will be shown to the families. In some cases this is not possible because the bodies are too badly injured.”

The tourist bus was carrying 52 people at the time of the accident. The bus was heading home from the Swiss Alps after a ski trip.

Officials are not sure what caused the crash. An investigation is currently underway to figure out how a modern bus driving through a safe tunnel resulted in one of the deadliest highway crash in Swiss history. The Suntimes notes that the bus also had two well-rested drivers. CNN reports that no other vehicle was involved int he crash.

Olivier Elsig, prosecutor for the Swiss state of Valais, said that the bus crash was caused by either a technical problem with the bus, an unexpected health problem for one of the drivers, or simply, human error. The driver of the bus was killed in the crash. Officials are planning to conduct on autopsy.