Death plunge in Siberia as bus skids into river

A passenger bus plunged off a bridge onto a frozen river in Siberia on Sunday, killing 19 people and injuring 21 more, officials said.

The bus skidded off the road after the front wheel failed while crossing a bridge over the Kuenga River in eastern Siberia's Zabaikalsky region, according to an initial investigation by the Emergencies Ministry.  

Two helicopters with medics were sent to the scene.

The vehicle was traveling from Sretensk to Chita in subfreezing morning temperatures when the accident occurred near the borders with China and Mongolia. 

Russia's Investigative Committee said it had opened a criminal inquiry into a possible violation of traffic safety rules.

Russia has one of the world's worst road safety records. Last year, 18,214 people died in road accidents, according to police numbers.

Many accidents are due to alcohol use, poor roads and failure to observe traffic rules. 

cw/rc (AFP, AP)

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