17 school kids killed in Brazil road accident

Sao Paulo, June 6 (IANS/EFE) At least 17 school students were killed and three injured in a road accident in Brazil’s northeastern state of Bahia, media reports said.

The students were riding in an open truck, which was hit by a trailer while it was going over a bridge near Laje town, TV Globo reported.

The truck fell from a height of 15 meters while the driver of the trailer fled the scene, fire department officials said.

The victims were returning home after taking part in a series of school competitions.

–IANS/EFE