Aussie tourists in bus crash, Germany

AUSTRALIANS are among those injured after a tourist bus collided with a truck in Germany and left several people fighting for their lives.

At least 30 tourists were travelling on this tourist bus in Germany when it collided with a truck. Picture: News711.

A TOURIST bus carrying more than 30 tourists, including Australians, has collided with a truck in Germany and left several people critically injured.

The incident unfolded when the bus changed lanes and collided with the truck filled with tyres while approaching an on-ramp to the A61 highway, near Heidelberg, in the country’s southwest.

According to broadcaster SWR, a total of 35 people were injured in the crash, including the drivers of both vehicles. At least 17 people were taken to hospital, including five women and three men from Canada, one woman from Australia, two men from the United States, and three Germans, according to police. Four of them are in critical conditions.

A Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson told news.com.au “Australian officials in Germany are making urgent enquiries with local authorities to confirm the identity and condition of any Australians involved in the bus incident near Heidelberg”.

Hockenheim: Schwerer Verkehrsunfall mit Reisebus; mehrere Schwerverletzte pic.twitter.com/Ifkk9xhr1A

— Marco Hanna (@Crash24h) October 11, 2018

A police spokesman said five rescue helicopters and seven ambulances raced to the scene in the small southwestern town of Hockenheim, about 20 kilometres from Heidelberg. He said the road was shut for several hours.

: Unfall-Horror bei Hockenheim! Reisebus kracht in Lkw - Dutzende Verletzte https://t.co/ANVdtblO9z pic.twitter.com/K13yj33t3j

— NEWS711 (@NEWS711de) October 11, 2018

Photos taken by local media show the front of the bus crushed, while the bulk of its body remains in tact. The truck reportedly also sustained major damage.

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Originally published as Aussie tourists in bus crash, Germany