Italian bus crash funeral

In Pozzuoli, southern Italy, a funeral has been held for the 38 victims of the bus crash.

Around 4,000 people attended the service which was held in a sports hall including the Prime Minister, Enrico Letta. Gennaro Pascarella, the Bishop of Pozzuoli has urged the clarification of the accident from the authorities so that this may never happen again.

The only news that has been given so far is that the coach lost control on a viaduct and after hitting several other cars, fell into a ravine. This happened near Monteforte Irpino.

The Bishop asked for support from political as well as religious levels. Families and friends of those killed crowded around the coffins that were lined up in front of the alter.

Relatives of the dead had placed flowers, photographs and others items for the ones they had lost.

Ten of the coach’s passengers were injured and nine were also injured that were hit in their cars as the coach careered off the road.

Prosecutors are looking into the possibility of manslaughter.

One woman who is still in hospital has allegedly been questioned by police and said that she believed one of the coach’s tyres had burst causing the loss of control. Police have ordered a post-mortem of the driver’s body that is amongst the dead.

The condition of the coach and the crash barriers will also be examined by the investigators.