At least 23 passengers were killed and over 30 injured when a commercial bus fell from a mountain highway into a river in Cusco this morning.
The bus was carrying 56 passengers when it fell into the Mapacho river in the Ocongate district of Cusco’s Quispicanchi province early this morning. The area is three hours from the provincial capital of Cusco, the departure point for tourists visiting the Machu Picchu ruins.
Officials say the bus was traveling from Puerto Maldonado to Cusco when the driver swerved to avoid a truck which had crossed into his lane. The bus fell over 60 feet into the river.
Most of the passengers were traveling to Cusco to vote in the 2016 elections. Car accident fatalities are common in Peru where many rural mountain roads are insufficient or poorly maintained.
Sources
Último Minuto: Vuelco de bus deja al menos 15 fallecidos en Cusco (Correo)
Confirman que son 20 fallecidos por caída de ómnibus a río en Cusco (Andina)
