Reuters AlertNet Lite - Peru bus plunge kills at least 45 despite govt campaign

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Peru bus plunge kills at least 45 despite govt campaign

05 Dec 2006 16:09:01 GMT
Source: Reuters

LIMA, Peru, Dec 5 (Reuters) - At least 45 people died when a packed passenger bus plunged into a ravine in Peru's southern Andes despite a new campaign by President Alan Garcia to reduce fatal road accidents, police said on Tuesday.

The bus skidded off a mountain road in Peru's border region with Bolivia late on Monday night and crashed into a 1,640-feet (500-meter) deep gorge, probably because the driver was speeding, police officer Julio Apaza said.

"We found around 45 dead and 2 injured," Apaza said.

Hundreds of people die in bus crashes every year in Peru because of poorly maintained vehicles, rutted mountain roads, reckless driving and harsh weather.

Garcia's government has vowed to stop the huge number of accidents by cracking down on illegal bus companies, forcing drivers to rest regularly on long journeys and encouraging better vehicle maintenance.

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Last updated:Tue Dec 5 16:10:25 2006