Four killed in bus crash in Germany

The bus skidded off the road and veered down the side of an embankment

The bus lies by the side of the road after the crash

At least four people have been killed after a bus collided with a car on a highway in central Germany.

The accident happened yesterday, close to the town of Bad Hersfeld, around 100km northeast of Frankfurt.

The collision sent the bus veering off the road and hurtling down the side of a slope.

Thomas Rodemer, a police spokesman, said that the bus flipped over and fell nearly 50 metres down the embankment.

The driver of the car is believed to have lost control of his vehicle and skidded into the bus.

Around 38 people were injured in the collision, with 18 in a serious condition in hospital and 20 suffering from minor injuries.

The bus is believed to have departed from the south western state of Baden-Wuerttemberg and was carrying senior citizens from Germany when it crashed into the other vehicle.

The road had to be closed and five rescue helicopters attended the scene.