20 still hospitalized, two in critical condition after bus accident in Spain

Twenty people remain in hospital on Wednesday, two in critical condition, due to the coach crash that occurred on Sunday in Freginals in the province of Tarragona, eastern Spain.

Three people left the hospitals, the health department said. Of the twenty still hospitalized, two are critically injured, three are seriously injured, and 15 are in less serious condition.

The bus driver, who is in critical condition, has the worst prognosis after his health worsened on Tuesday due to septic shock. He is in a hospital in Tortosa, near the area where the accident took place.

The 62-year-old driver was charged with 13 reckless homicides. Following the accident, he was taken to a police station where he refused to testify. After several medical examinations, he was admitted to hospital due to a pulmonary contusion.

Meanwhile, the repatriation of the dead has already begun and families are being taken from El Prat airport to hospitals or Tortosa where the victims are.

Forensic experts have identified 10 of the 13 fatalities, all young students who were part of the Erasmus student exchange program at the University of Barcelona. Seven of the dead students are from Italy, two from Germany, one from Romania, one from France, one from Uzbekistan and one from Austria.

The accident occurred Sunday morning as students were returning from Fallas Festival in Valencia as part of a trip organized by the association Erasmus Student Network. Endit