At least six people have been killed and 15 others seriously injured after a passenger coach overturned in south-western Colombia in the early hours of Saturday.
The Cootranscaquetá bus, carrying 37 passengers on a journey from San Vicente in the southern department of Caqueta to the capital, Bogota, crashed at around 2am in Huila. Local reports said at least two of those killed were children.
Driver 'microsleep' suspected
Investigators believe the crash may have been caused by the driver briefly falling asleep at the wheel. According to El Tiempo, the 26-year-old driver was seriously injured in the accident.
A police report seen by the Associated Press said authorities were examining the circumstances surrounding the crash, but early indications suggested the driver may have suffered a “microsleep” episode, a momentary lapse into sleep lasting only a few seconds.
Police statement and company response
A statement from the Huila Traffic and Transportation Police said that the driver "lost control" of the bus, seemingly due to a "microsleep, resulting in the bus overturning onto its left side".
Regarding the cause of the crash, Ariel Perdomo, manager of Cootranscaquetá, told El Tiempo: "It’s difficult to speculate, so we’re limiting ourselves to what the police tell us about this traffic accident."
Fatalities and injuries
Cablenoticias reports that among the fatalities are five adults and two minors.
