More than 50 people were injured in a bus collision Wednesday afternoon in the southwestern municipality of Chongqing, according to the local police.

 

The traffic accident took place at 3:36 PM when a bus with more than 20 passengers suddenly jumped over the 30-cm-high partition belt on the No.1 Changjiang Road and bumped head-on into another bus carrying at least 30 passengers.

 

The injured were rushed to the Chongqing Emergency Treatment Center, police said.

 

At present, 29 people are still in hospital for treatment, eight of whom were seriously injured. One with brain trauma is in critical condition, sources with the emergency center said.

 

The road accident also caused a two-hour traffic jam in downtown Chongqing, affecting thousands of cars.

 

According to the bus company, before jumping over the partition belt, the bus was forced to turn left to avoid an overspeed car that was changing lane.

 

But the cause of the accident hasn't been confirmed yet. Investigation is underway.

 

 

 

 

(Xinhua News Agency, China.org.cn January 5, 2006)