Canary Islands bus crash update as possible cause found after Brit dies | World | News

A British man tragically died when a bus carrying British holidaymakers crashed into a valley in the Canary Islands on Friday; Police are now investigating a possible brake failure as the cause.

The 77-year-old victim, whose identity has not yet been confirmed, was one of 27 British passengers believed to be heading to the San Sebastián de La Gomera dock to board a ferry to Tenerife.

Two men, aged 72 and 44, who suffered critical injuries, were airlifted to a hospital in Tenerife, while another passenger remains in critical condition. Two people were also seriously injured.

It was revealed that the widow of the Englishman who died in the accident was among those hospitalized.

The tourist bus was packed with 28 passengers when it crashed 30 meters down a valley in San Sebastian de La Gomera. Yesterday (Friday) around 13.15, he left the road while turning a bend.

Photos taken from the scene show the extent of damage to the vehicle, where dozens of injured people were airlifted to hospital after a major rescue.

It was reported that 27 of the 28 passengers were British citizens and 21 of them had been discharged from hospital at the time of writing. Unfortunately, among those hospitalized, a 77-year-old British man died along with his widow.

The investigation is still in its early stages, focusing on the theory that the bus suffered brake failure before veering off the road at a sharp bend.

Juan Luis Navarro, the Spanish government’s representative on the island, also told the press that the driver “tried to fight” after detecting the fault, but the vehicle eventually rolled down the hill.

“Luckily he stopped in his tracks before he fell further, otherwise it could have been much more serious,” he added.