An investigation is under way on the island of La Gomera to determine the causes of a fatal bus crash in which an elderly woman was killed and several passengers badly injured.
The bus, operated by the island’s bus company, was travelling from Alajeró to the island’s capital San Sebastián via the airport at around 9.00am when it left the GM-2 road and plummeted approximately 20 metres down a steep embankment, overturning as it rolled and ending up on its side.
Ambulances and a medical helicopter were dispatched to the scene of the tragedy and ferried ten passengers to hospital – three of them in a serious condition – but could do nothing to save the life of a 73-year-old woman, who is believed to be from Catalonia. Her husband was also on the stricken bus and is receiving counselling at present.
The crash has shocked the island, where the authorities have ordered two days of official mourning and flags to fly at half-mast. A telephone hotline has been set up to deal with enquiries from the families of the passengers and the local population has been encouraged to donate blood to ensure there are sufficient blood bank reserves for any operations needed for the injured, two of whom have been airlifted to a bigger hospital in Tenerife to be treated.
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