Updated January 08, 2018 10:57:26

A bus has plunged into a river after it lost control in a head-on collision with an SUV in east China's Jiangsu Province.

Four people were injured in the crash in Changzhou City, according to local authorities.

The SUV veered into the path of the bus and the force of the collision left the SUV on its side, missing one wheel.

The bus was severely damaged.

Staff from the public transportation company which owns the bus recalled the horrific moment when the smaller vehicle veered across two lanes of traffic, smashing into the bus.

"We were driving from west to east at normal speed," said Zhou Xiaolong, the manager of the No.3 Bus Company.

"Then the white car suddenly ran into our bus. The impact force from the car pushed us into the river.

"It was rainy and the road was slippery.

"We couldn't stop the bus, and ended up like this."

Photo: Four people were taken to hospital after the crash. (Reuters)

Both the drivers and two bus passengers sustained minor injuries.

The drivers have been discharged from hospital but two passengers are still under observation.

One of the patients may have a fractured rib, the other suffered bruising to the chest.

"With a 'swoop' we fell into the river. [The water] was up to my shoulder as we all sat in the bus, actually if we stood up, the water should be around waist," said Zhang Xiancheng, one of the passengers who was injured.

Another passenger, Shi Yiming, said: "I was looking at my phone when I heard the sound of the crash, then the bus plunged towards the river.

"We fell into the river before I could even react to what happened."

Police are investigating the cause of the crash.

Reuters

Topics: disasters-and-accidents, emergency-incidents, china

First posted January 08, 2018 10:51:49