SARGODHA, May 4: The death toll in a road accident which occurred on Monday night on the motorway went up to 17 while seven injured were reported to be in critical condition.

A Lahore-bound bus (LXL-6011) of the Daewoo express service, while avoiding collision with a car near Bhera interchange, overturned and fell into fields. As a result, 10 people were killed on the spot and 30 were injured. Seven of the wounded died later.

Bus driver Munawar Hassan, who also sustained injuries, told newsmen that when the bus reached near Bhera interchange, a car bearing a green number plate came in the lane of the bus. While trying to rescue the car, the bus went out of control, overturned and fell into fields.

An eyewitness told this reporter that about 7:30pm a white car bearing a green number plate turned towards Bhera interchange. But soon realizing that it was not a service area, the car driver turned towards the lane where the Daewoo bus was coming in the opposite direction with full speed.

When the bus driver applied full brakes to save the car, the passenger vehicle overturned and fell into fields, about 15 feet below the motorway road level. Official reports say 13 passengers, including four women, were killed and 23 injured, but unofficial sources say 17 passengers have been killed.

The dead in the accident are: Sher Khan, s/o Lal Khan, of Landhi, Karachi; Shaukat Ali, s/o Neimat Ali, of Lahore; Faiz Muhammad, s/o Mian Ahmed; Sahahbaz Ahmed of Lahore; Aman Ullah, s/o Sana Ullah, of Lahore; Hamad Aslam and Asif, sons of Muhammad Aslam, of Lahore; Asif Iqbal, s/o Muhammad Iqbal, of Lahore; Iram Nasir, wife of Nasir, of Kalarkahar; Sahista Mushtaq, bus hostess, and Nabeela of Lahore. Name of two other victims could not be ascertained.