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5 dead as bus hurtles into ravine in Germany

  • Story Highlights
  • Local transit bus broke through a crash barrier, fell 20 meters down a ravine
  • Of 15 people on board, five were killed and seven were injured
  • Accident happened near Radevormwald, about an hour northeast of Cologne
  • Bus came to rest partially submerged in the Wupper River, police said
From Frederik Pleitgen
CNN
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BERLIN, Germany (CNN) -- Five people were killed and seven were injured Tuesday when a local transit bus crashed into a ravine in western Germany, police said.

It happened near Radevormwald, which is about an hour northeast of Cologne, just before noon (7 a.m. ET), police said.

The bus, carrying 15 people, was traveling downhill and started to pick up speed, police for the Oberbergischer Kreis district said. It slipped off the road, broke through a crash barrier, and fell 20 meters (22 yards) down a ravine, police said.

The bus was partially submerged in the Wupper River, police said.

Three people escaped unhurt, police said.

Several people were trapped inside the bus after the crash, police said.

Rescue operations are ongoing, said police spokesman Holger Dominique.

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