[Yonhap Photo]
SEOUL, Dec. 28 (Aju News) -- A tower crane collapsed onto a bus in eastern Seoul, killing a passenger and injuring 15 others.
The tragic accident took place at 09:40 am (0040GMT) nearby a demolition site in eastern Seoul when the tower crane fell on to the road, collapsing over a bus waiting for the lights to change. The roof of the bus was crushed due to the weight of the fallen crane arm.
According to police, among 16 victims, a 53-year-old woman, identified by her surname Seo, was immediately carried to a hospital by emergency crews but the doctors failed to resuscitate the woman. Other 14 received light injuries from the crane collapse but one other passenger is severely wounded and is receiving treatment at the hospital.
A fire headquarters official said Thursday that he speculates that people who were standing inside the bus waiting to get off it were the most affected.
The 70-ton collapsed crane was carrying a five-ton excavator onto the roof of a to-be-demolished five-story building but it could not withstand the weight of the excavator, falling onto its side during the collapse.
The police have launched an investigation to find out what exactly has happened and will determine if they will charge people in charge of the accident with manslaughter.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
