Bus plunges from bridge in Russian city of St. Petersburg, killing 7 people

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — A bus left a bridge and plunged into a river Friday in St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city, killing seven people, officials said.

The Investigative Committee, Russia’s highest criminal investigative body, reported the death toll. It did not say how many other people were injured, but the Emergency Situations Ministry said earlier that six people pulled from the bus were in critical or serious condition.

Russian media said there were 15 people on board the city bus when it broke through a barrier and plunged into the Moika River in central St. Petersburg. Six of the passengers got out of the water on their own.

Surveillance video released by Russian media shows the bus driving at high speed, making a sharp turn on the bridge and colliding with another vehicle before going over the barrier and falling into the water.

St. Petersburg authorities said the bus owner was fined 23 times for various violations. Private companies operate most of the city’s bus services.

The bus driver was arrested by the police. His wife was quoted by Russian media as saying his superiors forced him to work in the morning after working 20 hours the day before and getting almost no rest.

Authorities have opened a criminal investigation into allegations of traffic violations and unsafe travel services.