Emergency services received an alert at 8:45 on Saturday morning about a serious bus accident on the E45 highway near Storuman in northern Sweden. Multiple rescue vehicles and police units rushed to the scene where a chartered bus had veered off the road and landed in a ditch.
One passenger became trapped in the wreckage and required extraction by emergency crews. Ten people total needed ambulance transport to medical facilities. Regional healthcare authorities activated their highest emergency preparedness level to handle the influx of patients.
Hospital officials confirmed Lycksele Hospital entered disaster mode to receive casualties. Medical staff prepared for multiple trauma cases, though by afternoon, officials confirmed no one sustained life-threatening injuries.
Police reported 21 passengers escaped completely unharmed while 26 others suffered minor injuries and received treatment at a nearby medical clinic. All uninjured and lightly injured passengers were transported from the accident site by replacement buses.
The bus belonged to Finnish company Saaga Travel and could accommodate up to 60 passengers. Company representatives could not immediately confirm the exact number of people aboard or their nationalities, stating they awaited official information from Swedish authorities. Passenger counts varied between 45 and 65 people, though police confirmed no children were on board.
Road conditions presented challenges at the time of the incident. A reporter at the scene noted significant snowfall had created slippery conditions throughout the area. Driving would have been particularly demanding in such weather, though the exact cause of the accident remains under investigation.
Emergency workers continued rescue operations through Saturday morning as the bus remained in the ditch. Investigators suspect the bus slid along the ditch before overturning after traveling some distance off the road. Authorities classified the incident as a single-vehicle accident with no other vehicles involved.
Police closed the highway in both directions between Fianberg and Skarvsjöby but reopened all lanes by 12:30 PM. Investigators documented the accident scene and launched a formal investigation into potential traffic negligence. No suspects have been identified, though police will impound the bus for detailed examination.
This incident highlights the challenges of winter driving on Sweden's northern highways, where weather conditions can change rapidly and create hazardous situations even for experienced drivers. The E45 corridor serves as a vital transportation link through remote areas where medical resources are limited, making coordinated emergency response particularly crucial. Road safety authorities have repeatedly emphasized proper winter tire requirements and speed adjustments for northern highway conditions during winter months.
The relatively low number of serious injuries despite the vehicle overturning suggests safety measures like seatbelt usage may have prevented worse outcomes. Swedish traffic accident investigations typically take several months to complete, especially when determining whether weather, mechanical failure, or human error played the primary role in causing the incident.