CHIMALTENANGO, Guatemala, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- A bus loaded with passengers plunged into a ravine along a road in Guatemala Monday, killing at least 43 people, authorities said.
Dozens more passengers were injured when the San Martineca Transportes Co. bus crashed en route from San Martin Jilotepeque to Chimaltenango, Guatemalan newspaper La Hora reported.
The death toll included at least 24 men, 10 women and four children, another Guatemalan newspaper, Prensa Libre, reported, adding at least 35 injured people were taken to hospitals in Chimaltenango and Guatemala City.
The cause of the crash had yet to be determined, but Prensa Libre said witnesses reported the vehicle was heavily loaded with about 80 passengers and goods and that brakes could have been an issue. The newspaper said Communications Minister Alejandro Sinibaldi cited the possibility of speed being a factor.
