Overloaded bus plunges into ravine while traveling to funeral in China; 11 dead, 31 hurt

11 dead in China after bus plunges into ravine

BEIJING — State media say an overloaded bus traveling to a funeral veered off a mountain road in northwestern China and plunged into a ravine, killing 11 people and injuring 31.

Xinhua News Agency says 42 people were in the 19-seat bus when it crashed Saturday in Ningxia region’s Haiyuan county. It says the injured people ranged in age from seven months to 77 years. Thirteen were in critical condition.

It says the county’s top traffic regulator was fired and three other officials were suspended after the accident.

Road accidents are common in China because of overloaded and unsafe vehicles, poor road conditions and bad driving habits.