Three people died and three others remain hospitalized following a serious bus crash near Östra station in central Stockholm. The accident occurred when a double-decker bus struck a bus shelter on Valhallavägen on Friday afternoon.
Police confirmed that none of the deceased have been formally identified as of Saturday morning. "The investigation and identification work continues," said police spokesperson Ola Österling. "We maintain high standards for identification - simply wearing an ID badge isn't sufficient."
The bus driver, an experienced professional according to his employer, remains hospitalized and has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by negligence. Police have questioned the driver but found no indications the incident was intentional. Officials declined to comment on reports suggesting a medical emergency may have caused the crash.
Stockholm public transport operator SL activated its emergency response team following the incident. The blue double-decker bus, which typically serves the Stockholm to Vaxholm route, was out of service at the time and heading for a driver break according to transit officials.
The crash occurred around 3:30 PM Friday at a major transportation hub near Tekniska högskolan metro station and Roslagsbanan commuter rail line. This timing meant many commuters were traveling through the area when the accident happened.
Two seriously injured passengers were transported to hospital by ambulance, while another person made their own way to medical care. Regional health authorities had no updates on their conditions by Saturday morning.
This incident highlights ongoing safety concerns in Stockholm's busy transit corridors. Valhallavägen serves as a critical northern artery through the city, handling substantial commuter traffic daily. The crash location at Östra station represents one of the city's key interchange points.
Transit safety records in Sweden generally remain strong, but accidents like this raise questions about driver monitoring and emergency response protocols. The thorough identification process police describe reflects Sweden's meticulous approach to accident investigations.
International hockey fans attending NHL games in Stockholm observed a moment of silence for the victims. The hockey league's commissioner expressed condolences to those affected by the tragedy.
Police have not scheduled further press briefings and cannot confirm when additional information will be released. The bus has been impounded as evidence while the investigation continues.