Three UCC students cheat death in Spain bus crash that kills 13

Three Irish exchange students have escaped injury in a coach crash in Spain which killed 13 women.

The bus, carrying 57 passengers, was returning from Spain's largest fireworks festival when it crashed on a highway, killing 13 and injuring around 30.

One of the wounded is in a critical condition in hospital, according to Catalonia's president Carles Puigdemont.

The Irish Examiner

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They were studying in Barcelona University as part of the Erasmus student exchange programme.

Two of the Irish students were uninjured. One suffered minor injuries. Eight people were seriously injured.

“The UCC International Education office has been in touch with the students’ families to offer support,” a spokesperson for UCC said.

The students, all female, were from various countries taking part in an Erasmus exchange programme at university in Barcelona.

A number of passengers were from Ireland and the UK, according to the Catalan government.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the Irish embassy in Madrid is also poised to provide consular assistance.

UCC confirms that 3 of its students were on the bus that crashed in Spain. 1 suffered minor injuries. More: https://t.co/ErdpROCii2

— UCC Ireland (@UCC) March 20, 2016

Spanish interior minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz confirmed the death toll was 13 and said 28 passengers received medical treatment in local hospitals while others were treated at the scene.

They were on their way back from the renowned Fallas fireworks festival in Valencia when the coach hit the barriers of the AP7 highway near Freginals, halfway between Valencia and Barcelona.

Television images from state broadcaster TVE showed the bus also crashed into an oncoming car on the opposite side of the road.

The bus driver was held at a police station in the city of Tortosa, according to Jordi Jane, spokesman for Catalonia province.

Mr Diaz said the driver passed alcohol and drug tests.