A chartered bus carrying 41 people on an overnight trip from Tokyo to a resort in the Nagano prefecture slid off a mountain road in central Japan on Friday, killing 14 and injuring 27 more, according to BBC News.
Fire and disaster management officials have stated that prior to sliding off the mountain, the bus swerved into the opposite lane and rammed through a guardrail. The accident happened near Karuizawa, in Nagano prefecture, which is a famous resort town.
Most of the passengers on the bus were in their teens or in their early 20s and on their way to a ski resort. The fatalities also included the bus' two drivers, who were taking turns driving during the ill-fated trip, reports The Vancouver Sun.
Those who were injured were immediately taken to a hospital, where they were treated for their injuries. Most of the survivors had head, neck and chest injuries. According to one of the survivors, the incident happened very fast.
"The bus was shaking sideways with incredible speed. I was still half asleep but I realized something was wrong. It was then that I hit my head and lost consciousness. When I came to, the bus was already on its side," one of the passengers told Nippon TV News, according to NBC News.
Though a full-scale investigation on the fatal incident is already underway, local police suspect that it was not the road conditions in the area that caused the accident, since the area was clear of any rain, snow or ice.
