Four Hospitalized After Tourist Bus Overturns Into Ditch

At least four people were injured after a tourist bus carrying more than 30 passengers overturned on a highway in Norway and landed on its side in a ditch.

Police in Trøndelag county said the German tourist bus was carrying 34 people when it crashed on the E6 highway in the municipality of Namsskogan on Saturday, Aug. 8.

Video footage obtained by local media reportedly showed the bus’s right-side wheels leaving the road while the driver was navigating a bend on the winding route. The vehicle then tipped over and came to rest on its side in a roadside ditch.

Emergency Crews Respond to Crash

Ambulances, emergency personnel and a rescue helicopter were sent to the accident site shortly after the crash.

First responder Elin Torgnes told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that rescuers had to use a hammer to gain access to the bus. She described the scene as chaotic and said emergency teams concentrated on helping the most seriously affected passengers.

At least four people were injured. Two passengers were transported to a hospital in Namsos, while another two were taken to Levanger.

Police Say No Serious Injuries Reported

The Trøndelag Police District said no passengers were trapped inside the overturned bus when emergency crews arrived.

Authorities said initial information indicated there were no serious injuries, although several passengers suffered minor injuries.

Those who did not require hospital treatment were taken to an evacuation center at a local care home, where they received assistance.

Crisis Team Established in Namsskogan

Namsskogan Mayor Elisabeth Vollmo Bjørhusdal told NRK that a crisis response team had been established following the crash.

The municipality was prepared to support passengers who suffered minor injuries or were left shaken by the accident.

E6 Traffic Disrupted During Rescue Operation

Two lanes of the E6 highway were initially closed while a rescue helicopter landed on the roadway. One lane was reopened later in the day, although recovery work remained underway on Saturday afternoon.

Officials also asked two drivers who were at the scene to remain there until the bus had been removed.

Police had not determined what caused the vehicle to overturn.

Jörn Frenzel, head of the bus company, told local outlet Adressa that the company did not yet know why the crash happened. He said the bus was relatively new and expressed relief that nobody appeared to have suffered serious injuries.

The tourist bus accident in Namsskogan left at least four people injured but resulted in no reported serious injuries. Emergency services quickly responded, while authorities continued recovery work and investigated what caused the bus to leave the roadway and overturn.