Yahoo News Eight tourists killed in freak accident after giant boulder smashes into bus
Eight people have died after a one-tonne boulder smashed into a tourist bus in China.
Images of the wreckage show how the boulder violently smashed into the side of the bus, forcing it off the road in the south-western province of Sichuan.
The valley road the bus was travelling down was hit by a miniature landslide carrying rocks.
The boulder that caused the damage to the bus measured was six feet wide and 3 feet high.
The bus was said to be travelling to en route the Sichuan capital, Chengdu, and was carrying 30 people, including the driver and a tour guide.
The bus crashed off the road at the moment of impact.
Officials confirmed the dead include bus driver Ma Weicheng, as well as five female passengers and two male passengers.
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A 12-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy were among the deceased.
Three people were reported dead at first, before rescue teams found another four dead under the stone.
Miraculously, five passengers escaped completely unhurt. A sixth person was allowed to leave hospital after being given the all clear.
A further 16 passengers were also injured in the freak accident.
According to witness accounts, the boulder struck the front side of the bus and injured passengers as it rolled down the middle of the aisle.
Prefecture officials say they are in touch with the victims’ families, while investigations are ongoing.
The front and side of the coach were ripped open by the huge boulder, which is still resting at the back of the bus.
