At least 5 killed as ‘speeding’ bus slams into crowd after ‘driver lost control’ while trying to avoid crash with truck

AT least five people have been killed and five injured as a bus ploughed into a crowd watching an orchestra performance. The bus reportedly slammed into the crowd at high speed after its driver lost control while trying to avoid a head-on collision with a truck. A bus reportedly slammed into a crowd at high speed, killing five Credit: X/DD News Bihar The bus driver lost control while trying to avoid crashing head-on into a truck, police said Credit: X/DD News Bihar Cops said the bus driver fled the scene. The horror unfolded at 10.45pm on Friday night in Lauriya, northern India. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! A huge crowd had spilled out onto the roadside to watch a concert in Bihar’s West Champaran district. The concert had been organised as part of a ceremony to celebrate a newborn baby in the village. Police said: “Suddenly, a speeding bus en route to Bettiah from Gorakhpur lost control and ploughed into the gathering.” Witnesses said a truck carrying gas cylinders was driving in the opposite direction. The bus swerved to avoid the truck and smashed into the gathered crowd instead, police said. After smashing into the crowd, police said the bus driver sped away from the scene. Most read in The Sun The driver later abandoned the bus, which was seized by cops, they told the Hindustan Times. Narkatiyaganj police officer Ajay Prakash Singh told PTI news: “While trying to avert a head-on collision with a truck, the bus ploughed into a crowd attending a cultural event on the roadside, killing five men and injuring several others.” Two people died at the scene and three more in hospital. They were named by police as Sanjay Mahto, Bhola Dubey, Bahadur Mahto, Devendra Dubey, and Changur Ram. Five others remain in hospital. Police have launched an investigation into the incident. They are considering speeding as a potential cause of the deadly smash. Comment now