Passenger bus plunged down gorge in southern Peru, 15 dead

USPA News - At least fifteen people were killed after a passenger bus plunged down a gorge in southern Peru, local authorities said Sunday. The passenger bus was on the Arequipa-Camana route in the province of Arequipa in southern Peru, when an apparent mechanical failure caused the driver to lose control of the bus, which ultimately dropped 150 meters (492 feet) down the gorge.

The accident occurred late Saturday night and around 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Camana. One of the survivors told local media that the bus driver yelled and warned passengers to `hold on` as the bus` brakes failed. Meanwhile, another passenger said the bus drove through three curves without losing speed until it began flipping over several times. The bus was reportedly overloaded with more than 50 passengers, many of them standing, and was operated by the Lucerito company. Locals told media outlets that the bus company usually packs its vehicles with several standing passengers. Local authorities confirmed that fifteen people lost their lives, while 37 others were injured.