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Khabarovsk Territory mourns over victims of fatal road accident

The accident involving two passenger buses took place at the 125th kilometer of the Khabarovsk-Kmosomolsk-on-Amur highway on Wednesday

KHABAROVSK, August 6. /TASS/. Russia’s Far Eastern Khabarovsk Territory on Thursday is mourning over the victims of the Wednesday’s fatal road accident.

The accident involving two passenger buses took place at the 125th kilometer of the Khabarovsk-Kmosomolsk-on-Amur highway on Wednesday. The driver of a bus that was heading to Khabarovsk was trying to maneuver around the construction machinery repairing the road and lost control of the vehicle. He crossed into the oncoming lane and collided with another bus, after which the bus overturned and fell into a ditch. The two buses were carrying 72 people, including 68 passengers and 4 drivers. A source in the law enforcement agencies has told TASS that about 40 people were trapped in the two vehicles. To release them rescuers’ help was required. Helicopters were used for evacuating the injured.

According to verified data, 15 people were killed and 38 more were injured.

"This tragedy is another reason to draw attention to the observance of traffic regulations, in particular speed limits," Khabarovsk Territory governor Vyacheslav Shport said on Thursday. He said he had ordered to check the procedure of licensing passenger transportation.

The local government promised to pay an allowance of 500,000 roubles (7,860 U.S. dollars) to the families of those killed in the accident and 200,000 roubles (3,140 U.S. dollars) to those injured.

The local police opened a criminal case on charges of violation of traffic rules causing the death of two or more people.