<p>The bus was towed away from the accident site on a trailer (AP)</p>

Bus crash in Texas kills 15 pilgrims

A charter bus that skidded off a freeway north of Dallas, Texas, USA, killed 15 people.

The bus was carrying a Vietnamese Catholic group to an annual pilgrimage early Friday. More than 40 people were injured.

Authorities said the latest victim was a woman who died at Wilson N. Jones Hospital in Dallas. Twelve people died at the scene, and the others at hospitals. More than a dozen victims were reported in critical condition.

The National Transportation Safety Board also said late Friday that the driver was a 52-year-old who had a commercial license but whose medical certification had expired.

Investigators say a blown tire on the bus had been refitted with a new tread in violation of safety standards.

Authorities say the bus was operating illegally earlier in the day when the right front tire blew. The vehicle smashed into a guardrail and tipped over.

 

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