A bus crash in Ecuador on Wednesday killed 19 Colombian tourists, according to officials from the Colombian government. The deadly crash happened on a road some 30 kilometers east of the capital of Quito.
Previous numbers from officials in Ecuador had reported that only a dozen Colombians died, while four Venezuelans and two Ecuadorians were also killed on the bus that crashed into a vehicle and then into nearby houses.
Even though it was primarily carrying tourists, Colombian authorities have disputed whether or not the bus that had foreign license plates was officially licensed to carry such travelers.
The reason for the crash is not quite clear but Ecuador Transport Minister Julio Barba said, according to AFP, that the driver “probably overused the brakes… which produced an overheating of the brake system leading to a loss of control of the vehicle.”
One of the bus drivers has been arrested by Ecuadorian police for apparent negligence, the AFP reported.
Crashes in Ecuador are one of the leading causes of death and many are due to human error.
