Argentina bus crash kills 17

The bus was packed with holidaymakers

Seventeen people have been killed and 47 injured after a passenger train crashed into a bus in the town of Dolores in eastern Argentina.

Witnesses said the bus had been driving over a level crossing on which the barriers had been lowered when the crash occurred before dawn on Sunday.

The bus's two drivers are being held in custody until officials determine if they were responsible for the crash.

The coach had been travelling from an Atlantic beach resort to Buenos Aires.

Among the dead was a woman on a motorbike who was waiting at the crossing for the train to pass.

All of the other people killed and most of those injured were passengers on the bus, officials said.

Investigation

The bus was packed with holidaymakers travelling to the town of San Miguel from the coastal town of Mar de Ajo, 300km (186 miles) to the south.

The train was travelling from Buenos Aires to the beach resort of Mar del Plata.

The town of Dolores where the crash happened is about 200 km from Buenos Aires.

Footage aired on local TV showed the bus lying on its side with most of its roof ripped off. The railway line was strewn with seats and the passengers' possessions.

Buenos Aires provincial Governor Daniel Scioli promised a full investigation into the incident as he visited the crash site:

"It's just devastating, so tremendously sad. And to think there were families going on vacations is a disgrace," Mr Scioli was quoted by Associated Press as saying.