China bus plunge kills 17: Xinhua news agency

Beijing, May 7: A bus plunged off a highway in the southwestern province of Guizhou early today, killing 17 people, three of them children, Xinhua news agency reported.

Another 24 were injured in the crash in Qianxi county, in the west of the poor, mountainous province.

Last year, road accidents killed about 90,000 people in China, making its roads the world's deadliest, as drivers regularly flaunt traffic regulations.

Accidents tend to spike during China's three ''Golden Week'' holidays, when millions take to the roads and rails. today is the last day of the week-long Labour Day holiday.

Reuters>