Traffic accident in southwest China injures 15

CHONGQING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- A total of 15 people were injured after a bus slid off a bridge in the southwestern Chongqing Municipality early on Thursday, police said.

The accident happened at about 5:00 a.m. in Jiangbei district when bus No. 702 slid nearly 10 meters along the steep slope, after driving over the Jiangling River bridge, local police officer Huang Hao said.

At the time of the accident, 15 people were on board, including the driver.

Three were badly injured and 12 others received slight injuries, according to doctors at the Municipal Emergency Medical Center. All are in stable conditions.

The local police authority had previously put the number of seriously injured to 10.

Huang said the bus had not been following the scheduled route, which does not include the bridge.

Police are interrogating the driver to ascertain the cause of the accident.