Paralympics party cancelled as seven killed in bus crash

THE party for the closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games in Athens was cancelled yesterday after a bus taking Greek high school students to watch the games smashed into a truck loaded with glass, killing seven teenagers.

Thirty other passengers were injured, three critically, in the collision near the seaside town of Aghios Constantinos, 108 miles north of Athens.

Paralympic organisers said they would cut back tomorrow’s closing ceremony of the games, while Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos expressed his “deepest regret over this appalling accident”.

All Greek schools will close on Wednesday as a sign of mourning.

“Seven youngsters are dead. There are a number of seriously injured,” said Antonis Galanos Lamia, police chief of the nearby town of Lamia.

He said the truck may have been speeding when it apparently jack-knifed into oncoming traffic and hit the bus.

Police said they are examining witness reports that one the truck’s tyres burst moments before the crash.

Police said the bus was carrying 37 students, four teachers and a driver from Farkadona, a small town 205 miles north of Athens.

International Paralympic Committee spokeswoman Miriam Wilkens said it was “a very sad day”.

“School children have been big supporters of all Paralympic athletes and now it is time for us to offer our support to the friends and families of those involved in the accident,” Ms Wilkens said.