Six killed in bus accident

Six people died and 13 were injured yesterday when an intercity bus heading to Samcheok, Gangwon, hit a guardrail and plunged 8 meters (26.3 feet) down an embankment.

The accident happened at 10:48 a.m. as the bus traveling from Uljin, North Gyeongsang, to Samcheok on national highway Route 7 went out of control and rolled 50 meters before stopping, according to police.

The bus carried 18 passengers and a driver. The driver, a 50-year-old man surnamed Ahn, and five passengers were killed. Among the injured were a 38-year-old Russian and a 57-year-old Korean woman surnamed Lee.

Police said that the roof of the vehicle was ripped off when it rolled. Some passengers were thrown through windows and crushed under the bus.

Police said they are still trying to determine the exact cause of the accident.

By Cho Jae-eun [jainnie@joongang.co.kr]