Mexican Bus Plunges 650 Feet, 67 Die

An overcrowded bus speeding home from a religious festival veered off a highway emergency ramp and crashed through a metal barrier, plunging more than 650 feet into a ravine. At least 67 people were killed, including four minors.

Four others survived Monday's plunge from the highway, considered one of the 15 most dangerous in Mexico. The bus had already traveled for more than 10 hours as it returned from an Easter week gathering in the western city of Guadalajara to the passengers' home state of Tabasco, on the Gulf Coast.

Rescuers ended their search for victims after recovering 63 bodies, State Attorney General official Rosa Elvira Gonzalez said. She said four others died in area hospitals. Officials did not say if the driver survived.

The bus, equipped to hold 46 passengers, was carrying 71, some of whom were standing, said Federal Preventive Police Cmdr. Reinaldo Ascencio Cavazos. He said the owner of the bus was detained for questioning.

Ascencio said the passengers belonged to two religious groups the Guadalajara-based Light of the World and Pentecostes.

But in Guadalajara, Mexico's second-largest city, Light of The World spokesman Sara Susana Pozos said those killed were not members of her church.

"We haven't had any religious act in Guadalajara or in the south of the country," Pozos said, adding that church officials in Veracruz have been in contact with officials at the crash site and "we can honestly say that those involved in the accident aren't part of the Light of the World."

She said that police might have been confused because some of the women from the crash wore long clothing and carried bibles, like many of those faithful to The Light of the World.

Light of the World is a conservative Protestant movement founded in 1926, when members believe Christ spoke to the church's Mexican founder.

Police did not immediately know what caused the crash, but said the driver was seen attempting to maneuver into a lane designed for vehicles that have brake or other mechanical failure as the bus descended a winding mountain road. The bus fell between 650 to 820 feet, authorities said.

The bus was thought to be traveling at about 68-70 mph. Buses often are required to not to exceed 60 mph.

At least two of the injured passengers were taken unconscious to area hospitals. An 8-year-old girl was among the injured but her condition was not immediately known. No details were available on the fourth injured passenger.

Hundreds of thousands of Mexicans filled the highways Sunday and Monday as they returned from Easter week vacations. The holiday typically sees a large number of highway deaths.

The faithful killed Monday were thought to be traveling to Guadalajara as part of an Easter gathering.