A packed passenger bus careened off a mountain road in Peru, plummeting into a river Saturday, killing at least 33 people. There were 43 seated passengers on the coach, but state media reports that many people were standing in the aisles, so the death toll could rise even further. The bus was headed from Huamacho to Trujillo. Eerie photos from the scene show the bus in mangled pieces dotting the river, with picturesque mountains flanking the wreckage. Authorities blamed the region’s treacherous, winding roads, the poor condition of the vehicle and driver error for the accident. Road accidents are common in the Peruvian Andes due to poorly maintained roads, inconsistent vehicle maintenance, and the propensity of overworked bus drivers to speed. In 2011, 1,124 people were killed and 2,583 injured in 1,108 highway accidents, according to the latest official figures.
