Bus crash kills 21 on temple visit in Thailand

BANGKOK – Police said 21 passengers were killed when a tour bus returning from a Buddhist temple visit plunged into a mountain ravine in northern Thailand.

Police Colonel Somdet Tossaporn said the bus driver lost control of the vehicle before it fell about 30 meters (98 feet) into the ravine on a curvy rural road in Wang Nuea district in Lampang province on Wednesday. The driver was among 18 people injured.

The passengers were Buddhist worshippers on a merit-making trip to the temple. Most of those killed were women.

Somdet said the driver is facing charges of causing deaths by reckless driving. The charges carry a maximum jail term of 10 years.