Moscow subway bus crash kills four people

Video caption, The bus hit the entrance of a pedestrian underpass in Moscow

A bus left a road in Moscow before ploughing into a subway entrance, leaving four people dead and 11 injured, Russian officials say.

Footage shows people scattering as the bus ran down wide steps before being brought to a halt by the tunnel's roof.

The incident happened near Slaviansky Boulevard metro station.

There is no suggestion it was a terror attack. Russian investigators said the driver told police the vehicle had started to move suddenly.

He tried to apply the brakes but they did not work, the investigative committee said. The crash happened in icy conditions.

All those killed in the crash were knocked down by the bus, which had been at a standstill before it drove on to the pavement and careered down the steps of the underpass.

The victims included a woman in her thirties and a teenager. Health officials said two of the injured were in a serious condition.

Interfax news agency reported that the bus was not even a year old. Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin told reporters at the scene that an inspection of the entire Moscow bus fleet had been ordered.

Image source, Reuters

Image caption, The driver is being held by police

Image source, Reuters

Image caption, It is not the first deadly incident at the station

Security camera footage broadcast on Russian television showed a number of people being struck by the bus as it went down the steps of the metro station in the west of the city.

A preliminary examination showed the driver of the bus was sober, news agencies said. He has been held by police.

In July 2014, 21 people were killed when a train derailed near the same station after braking abruptly.

Monday is a normal working day in Moscow, where the Orthodox Christmas will be celebrated on 7 January.

Image source, Google