ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish officials said that 18 French tourists were injured when their tour bus crashed into a car near the Mediterranean resort of Antalya on Thursday.
The Associated Press (CP) reports that earlier, local governor Salih Isik said seven people, including six French citizens, were killed in the accident. He later corrected himself, saying six French passengers were in the hospital, with serious injuries and that the error stemmed from initial “mayhem” at the crash site.
French embassy officials were not immediately available for comment.
Ambulances and a helicopter transported the injured to hospitals in Antalya area, Isik said.
The cause of accident was under investigation. But CNN-Turk television said rain and slippery road conditions may have caused the crash.
Dogan news agency video footage showed medics caring for the injured near the bus, which had flipped on its side.
According to AP(CP), Isik said the bus was carrying 25 tourists. It was travelling to the town of Demre, the birthplace of St. Nicholas, the inspiration for Santa Claus.
Antalya, with long sandy beaches and warn climate, is a popular tourist destination.
Thousands of people are killed in traffic accidents on Turkey’s roads each year because of careless driving or poor road conditions.
WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:
- He later corrected himself, saying six French passengers were in the hospital, with serious injuries and that the error stemmed from initial “mayhem”.
- Ambulances and a helicopter transported the injured to hospitals in Antalya area, Isik said.
- The Associated Press (CP) reports that earlier, local governor Salih Isik said seven people, including six French citizens, were killed in the accident.
