A passenger bus traveling from Isfahan to Mashhad overturned on a central Iran highway late Monday, killing 13 people and injuring more than a dozen, state media said. The bus struck a central guardrail, crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with a taxi before flipping over. Eleven bus passengers and two people in the taxi were killed; six women and seven men were hospitalized. Authorities say the cause is under investigation amid Iran's high annual road-death toll.
Deadly Bus Crash in Central Iran: 13 Killed, Dozens Injured
This is a locator map for Iran with its capital, Tehran. (AP Photo)
A passenger bus overturned on a highway in central Iran late Monday, killing 13 people and injuring more than a dozen, state-run IRNA reported.
Police said the bus, traveling from Isfahan to the northeastern city of Mashhad, struck the highway's central guardrail, crossed into oncoming traffic, collided with a taxi and then flipped over. Eleven people on the bus and two occupants of the taxi were killed in the collision.
Emergency teams, including ambulances and rescue units, were dispatched to the scene shortly after the crash. Authorities said six women and seven men were taken to hospital; their conditions were not immediately disclosed.
Context
Road Safety in Iran: Iran records roughly 20,000 road deaths each year, one of the highest tolls globally. Officials and analysts point to widespread traffic-law violations, poorly maintained vehicles and limited emergency response capacity in rural areas as major contributing factors.
Investigations into the precise cause of this crash are ongoing, police added.
What We Know
- Bus was en route from Isfahan to Mashhad when the crash occurred.
- The vehicle struck a central guardrail, crossed into the opposite lane and collided with a taxi before overturning.
- Thirteen people were killed (11 bus passengers and 2 taxi occupants); more than a dozen were hospitalized.
- Emergency and rescue teams responded to the scene; investigations continue.
