20 passengers in a bus accident yesterday

Shortly after 5 pm yesterday a bus with 20-30 passengers capsized on Rangárvallavegur road near Stokkalækur. All 27 people injured in a bus accident in south Iceland today are Icelanders. The injuries to people are different, but some are “major” according to police.

Three helicopters were called out to the scene and everyone on board was taken to a hospital for treatment. Seven passengers were moved by helicopter to Landsspítali hospital in Reykjavík, others were taken to the Health facilities at Hella or the Healthcare Institution of South Iceland. This was confirmed by Jón Gunn­ar Þór­hall­sson, chief of police in South Iceland, in a conversation with mbl.is yesterday.

“Now we’re just going to look at and diagnose injuries. We don’t know the status of the injured. So this is going to become clearer,” he said. “These things are from being minor to major.”

Group accident plan activated

The bus is owned by the bus company GTS, Guðmundur Tyrfingsson. The South Iceland Police report on Facebook that there were 26 passengers, plus a driver.

The situation was assessed so that a group accident plan and the civil protection coordination center in Skógarhlíð were activated.

A huge number of ambulances were also sent to the scene, both from the fire department in the capital area and the fire department of  Árnessýsla county.

The police in South Iceland investigate

It is unknown what caused the accident but the police in South Iceland are investigating it.

Þórhallsson would not answer whether anyone was seriously injured or deceased at the scene.

The help line 1717 provides psychological support to those who wish. A collection area has been opened for family members on the premises of the Árnes division of the Icelandic Police at Eyrarvegur 23 in Selfoss.