Bus Drives in to Raging Flood Killing 2 Children

the hawk · #1 ● 07-21-2013, 11:41 AM

Dramatic moment packed bus in Samoa plunges into raging flooded river killing girls aged five and 12

Tipping over into raging flood waters after a swollen river burst its banks it's a miracle that anyone on this packed Samoan bus made it out alive. The screams of those on board can be heard as the bus arches into a ditch and becomes practically submerged in the river water in Savaii in Samoa.

Horrifying video footage has emerged of a terrifying bus crash that saw a 12-year-old and five-year-old killed earlier this month. Several other passengers were taken to a hospital on the island suffering from broken bones and other serious injuries.

The bus was travelling from Itu o Tane to the Salelologa wharf on the island to catch a ferry when the tragic accident happened. All of the passengers - around 40 - were still inside when the bus overturned in flash flooding at Lano.

The bus flipped over as it dropped from the road to the river which normally passes underneath it. According to Scott Maclaren, who filmed the clip, some were able to scramble to safety when the roof of the bus was ripped off but several others were dragged further into the water.

Mr Maclaren said: 'The bus got about 3/4 of the way across, but the current was too strong, and it slid towards the lower edge of the road. At this point people started screaming.

'There was a drop of about 1m from road to river, and as the bus went in it turned on its roof.

At this point I put the camera down, covered up because of the rain, and started heading towards the seafront where everything was being dragged to.

The bus did another 90 degree roll so the roof was now facing me, and the force of the water ripped the roof off, exposing the people inside like terrified sardines in a can.

'People started jumping out left right and centre, the more able were able to scramble to the banks of the river, the less able were dragged out by the terrific current. I ran to the sea edge and waded in, looking for someone to help.

Tourists and locals waded into the water and dragged people from the water. In the wake of the accident, local police were reportedly investigating allegations that the bus driver had been drinking.