14 dead in coach crash as group returned from religious excursion

A bus carrying a group on a religious excursion has crashed in southe Spain, killing 14 people and injuring another 38.

A regional church authority in Murcia said one of two buses bringing back 55 members of a religious group from a day trip in Madrid to the town of Bullas ran off the road late yesterday and tumbled down a 15-metre dirt embankment.

The crash occurred near the town of Cieza.

Bodies lie at the side of the road (EPA)

(Picture: EPA)

The regional govement said 23 passengers are still in hospital and that police are investigating the cause of the crash.

Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy expressed his condolences through Twitter, writing: ‘I am deeply affected by the accident in Cieza."

The victims include the local priest, 36-year-old Miguel Conesa Andugar.

14 people died in the accident (Picture: EPA)

The local priest was among the victims (Picture: EPA)

Emergency crews at the scene of the crash (Picture: EPA)