Hatian Bus Crash Live Updates: Driver Plows Into Pedestrians, Dozens Of Fatalities Reported

UPDATE: 5:35 p.m. EDT — Reuters upped the death toll from Sunday’s Haitian bus accident to 38 with the deaths of four of the injured at a hospital.

After the initial accident that killed one of two pedestrians, the fleeing bus driver crashed into three “rara” parades in Mapou, about 3 miles away, said Joseph Faustin, civil protection head in the Artibonite department.

Rara parades are an Easter-time staple and involve groups of musicians playing traditional instruments.

It was unclear what caused the 4 a.m. accident.

The bus driver was initially taken to a hospital along with injured passengers, but Police Chief Jean Bazlais Bornelus said he has since fled.

UPDATE: 3:30 p.m. EDT — A Haitian bus driver fleeing a hit-and-run accident in which one person was killed, plowed into three groups of street musicians, killing 33 more and injuring 17 Sunday in Gonaives, about 90 miles from Port-au-Prince.

Haitian President Jovenel Moise issued a statement, saying he was “deeply saddened” by the incident and pledged an investigation.

UPDATE: 1:15 p.m. EDT — A bus traveling from Cap Haitien to Port-au-Prince killed at least 34 people Sunday and injured 17 others, Reuters reported.

Original story

A Haitian bus driver is accused of killing 34 people as he tried to flee a fatal accident in Gonaives, about 90 miles from Port-au-Prince. Early Sunday.

The bus hit two pedestrians, killing one, before plowing into a group of musicians. Fifteen other people were injured.

Police were attempting to control angry crowds as they transported the injured to hospital, Sky News reported.

"The people who were not victims of the accident tried to burn the bus with the passengers inside," said Faustin Joseph, civic protection coordinator for the area.

"The bus, the passengers and the driver were all placed into the care of the local authorities."

More to come