At least 4 killed in US school bus collision

Seattle, Sept 25: A school bus carrying international students collided with a tour vehicle in the US West Coast city of Seattle, killing at least four people and critically injuring 15 others, officials said.

Images of the fiery accident yesterday on a busy bridge showed extensive damage to the left side of the bus, part of which was completely sheared off by the force of the crash.

Melissa Mixon, spokeswoman for North Seattle College, said that 45 students and staff with the school's international program were on board the bus.

She could not immediately provide information on the nationality or age of the victims. Local news reports said the four killed were all students.

College president Warren Brown told reporters the students were going to visit Safeco Field, a sports stadium, as part of their orientation program.

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray said authorities were assisting families of the victims who were flying into Seattle from several countries. "The accident occurred when a charter bus traveling with the students collided with a 'Ride the Ducks' tour vehicle," Mixon said.

The college hosts some 1,000 international students from 50 countries, including China, Korea and Japan, according to its website. The school year is scheduled to begin on Monday.

Passengers on board the bus and the "Ride the Ducks" amphibious vehicle -- used for tours in several US cities -- could be seen crawling out of the wreckage, some of them dazed and bloodied, while others were carried away on stretchers.

PTI