Photo: Sheriff Danny Perkins/AP/Shutterstock

This photo released by the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office shows a tour bus that was carrying Chinese-speaking tourists after it crashed near Bryce Canyon National Park in southern Utah, killing at least four people and critically injuring up to 15 others Tour Bus Crash Bryce Canyon - 20 Sep 2019

A devastating bus accident in Utah on Friday has claimed at least four lives.

A tour bus carrying 30 passengers, including the driver, ran off Highway 12 and rolled into a guardrail shortly after 11:30 a.m. on Friday, the Garfield County Sheriff’s Officeannounced on Facebooklater that day.

The bus was transporting Chinese tourists near Bryce Canyon National Park, an area known for its gorgeous scenery about 270 miles south of Salt Lake City. The sheriff’s office described the accident as “horrible.”

Between 12 and 15 of those wounded had “critical injuries,” the Utah Highway Patrol said in atweet, and 10 more had minor injuries.

“Garfield County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all those who assisted in helping on the bus accident,” the sheriff’s office said inanother Facebook post, shared about an hour later. “There are so many counties out there who helped. We want to thank all the people who assisted also. It is amazing to see everyone work together. The compassion everyone had. Your [sic] are all amazing.”

tour bus.AP/Shutterstock

This photo released by the Utah Highway Patrol shows a tour bus carrying Chinese-speaking tourists after it crashed near Bryce Canyon National Park in southern Utah, killing at least four people and critically injuring up to 15 others Tour Bus Crash Bryce Canyon - 20 Sep 2019

Utah Highway Patrol is currently investigating the accident, the sheriff’s office said.

“We are saddened to hear about the accident in Utah involving a bus carrying Chinese tourists,” theChinese Embassy in the U.S. tweetedon Friday. “We are thankful to authorities in Utah for their assistance. The Embassy has initiated its emergency protocols, sent personnel to the area, and will assist the victims as needed.”

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Utah’s Governor, Gary Herbert, echoed the sentiments of the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office and the Chinese Embassy, saying in atweetthat his “heart sank when I heard the news that a tour bus crashed near Bryce Canyon.”

Hie tweet continued: “I grieve with all who lost loved ones in this crash and I’m grateful for the quick work of first responders, as well as all those who are volunteering to act as translators.”

source: people.com