SAO PAULO, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a tourist bus rollover on Friday in the northeastern Brazilian state of Pernambuco rose to 17 on Saturday, local authorities said.
Two passengers who were hospitalized after the crash died from their injuries, the state government reported.
According to the Federal Highway Police, the bus veered in the wrong direction and struck rocks on the roadside. The driver steered it back onto the correct path before the vehicle collided with a sandbank and overturned along a highway connecting the municipalities of Paranatama and Saloa, in Pernambuco's Agreste region.
The vehicle, carrying over 30 passengers, was a tourist bus with a valid charter license, authorities said.
Local TV footage showed the overturned bus surrounded by ambulances and rescue vehicles. The highway stretch where the crash occurred is known for sharp curves and low visibility, making it prone to accidents, according to local media.
The driver was taken to a local police station for questioning. ■
