Irishman killed after bus crashes in Peru

An Irishman is among six people killed in a bus crash in Peru, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed last night.

An Irishman is among six people killed in a bus crash in Peru, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed last night.

The dead man has been named as 21-year-old David Scollard.

Another 37 travellers, including tourists from Canada, Israel, France, Germany and Britain, were injured in the accident and sent to several hospitals and clinics in Cuzco

The double-decker bus missed a bridge and plunged into a gorge while travelling along the highway between Lake Titicaca, on the border with Bolivia, and Cuzco - the Inca capital and a popular base for tourists heading to the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu.

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The cause of the accident has not been established but investigators said they think the bus driver, who was among the dead, either fell asleep or was speeding.

Bus crashes are common in Peru, where bus drivers frequently speed and pass vehicles along blind mountain curves.

Additional Reporting: PA