18-year-old killed and dozens hurt as double-decker bus overturns on Sweden's Highway 25

An 18-year-old man has died and more than 40 people have been affected after a double-decker bus overturned on Highway 25 between Växjö and Alvesta in southern Sweden on Monday afternoon, the Sweden Herald reports, citing Swedish news agency TT.

The bus, operating for Länstrafiken i Kronoberg and travelling from Växjö towards Ljungby, overturned at around 4:30pm on 5 October. Police announced the 18-year-old’s death in the evening, according to the report.

Region Kronoberg said more than 40 people were affected. Ten were treated overnight in Kronoberg hospitals — eight in Växjö, two of them in intensive care, and two in Ljungby — while one patient was flown by helicopter to Karlskrona hospital. The Swedish Maritime Administration joined police and rescue services in the response, and Region Kronoberg went into emergency mode with crisis support teams at the scene, AFP also covered the crash on its world wire.

Traffic director Pär Welander told Dagens Nyheter, via TT, that it was a “direct bus with mainly schoolchildren and commuters”. The cause is unknown, and Welander said he had no information on how the crash happened.

Police have cordoned off the site and are investigating. Police spokesperson Filip Annas said: “We will interview the injured as soon as possible.” The Swedish Transport Administration warned of major traffic disruption and said the road would not reopen before 7am on Tuesday.