A rescue helicopter flies over the scene in Switzerland where a bus crashed Saturday, killing two Canadians. (Urs Flueeler/Keystone/Associated Press)
The driver of a tour bus that crashed in Switzerland on Saturday, killing two Canadians, says he was trying to avoid a motorcyclist.
First, a group of motorbikes passed the bus near the Swiss village of Reckingen, about 80 kilometres from the Swiss capital, Bern. Then a single bike, which may have been racing to catch up with the others, passed the bus and cut in front of it, the driver said.
The 73-year-old German driver then veered and hit the side of the road, freelance reporter Victoria Morgan told CBC News from Geneva on Sunday.
The bus fell four metres to a field and turned over onto its side.
It was taking 48 Canadian tourists to Austria from Switzerland. It also carried the driver and a tour guide.
The bus was going uphill on a dry, straight road in good conditions and was not speeding.
Rare event
Police are looking for witnesses. Villagers say there has not been an accident on this part of the road before, Morgan reported.
The names of the Canadian dead have not been released. Among the 28 originally hurt, about nine people are still in hospital.
Police spokesman Markus Rieder said the passengers were mainly retirees from Ontario.
Some of the passengers were from Cornwall and some of the seats had been booked through a travel agency in the eastern Ontario city.
Friends and relatives seeking information on Canadian citizens believed to be involved can call Foreign Affairs at 1-800-387-3124 or 613-996-8885 (collect calls are accepted), or email sos@international.gc.ca.
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