Official: 12 dead in Chile bus accident

Fans of soccer team were being transported

Author: From Nelson Quinones CNN
Published On: Feb 09 2013 05:13:10 AM EST   Updated On: Feb 09 2013 05:22:51 AM EST
Chilean flag
(CNN) -

At least 12 people were killed early Saturday when a bus carrying fans of one of Chile's top soccer teams careened off the side of the road south of the capital city of Santiago, Chile, authorities said.

The accident occurred at about 2 a.m. when the driver lost control on a mountain road near the town of Tome and the bus plummeted about 30 meters (98.4 feet), Felipe Martinez Parra, a regional police officer, said.

The bus was carrying 45 fans of the O'Higgins soccer team, from the city of Rancagua.

At least 22 people were wounded in the accident, Martinez Parra said.

The fans had just attended a game in Talcahuano where O'Higgins defeated the hometown team, Huachipato, 2-0.

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