BERLIN, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- A skidding car was believed to have caused a bus crash near Berlin that killed 13 Polish tourists and injured 29 others, German authorities said.
A preliminary investigation indicated a Mercedes with a German license plate and driven by a woman skidded on a slippery road and hit the bus, sending it into an overpass pillar, the Polish Business Journal reported Monday.
The bus was carrying 49 Poles on their way back from a weeklong vacation in Spain when the crash occurred Sunday.
Nearly 400 officers from different area police departments participated in rescue efforts that lasted 10 hours.
Tomasz Sochacki, owner of Pol-Bus, said the bus was roadworthy and his driver was experienced.
"If there had been a chance to avoid this tragic accident, I'm sure he would have taken appropriate action," Sochacki said.
