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Two Russian tourists killed in NE China bus accident

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-23 16:49

HARBIN - Two Russian tourists killed in a bus accident in northeast China on Friday were identified as 40-year-old Anokhin Dmitry and 13-year-old Tarasenko Anastasia, according to the border inspection station in Suifenhe.

They were among 22 Russian tourists on board the bus that overturned at a crossroad of Tielinghe Town of Mudanjiang City, Heilongjiang Province, at about 4:40 a.m. en route to Suifenhe, China's border city with Russia.

Two of the tourists remained in hospital in Mudanjiang on Saturday morning after 18 other members of the tour group were told they could return home.

Driver fatigue was believed to have been cause of the crash, said police after they interrogated the bus driver, who allegedly admitted that he was sleepy while driving. Police have detained him.

The accident occurred after he had been driving alone in the dark for five hours. The long-distance trip was supposed to have two drivers rotating. However, there was only one driver on the tourist bus, said the police.

Police are still investigating the accident.