Eighteen tourists and their driver escaped with minor injuries when the bus they were in rolled over on Mosfellsheiði mountain pass, east of Reykjavík, late yesterday afternoon, RÚV reports.
The passengers are tourists of several different nationalities, who were returning from the Golden Circle. On the way back, the weather deteriorated, as did the road conditions.
“A strong gust of wind blew them off the road and [the bus] landed on the side, but given the conditions, they escaped with as little damage as possible,” described Hilmar Bergmann, head of the Red Cross in Mosfellsbær.
A few people suffered minor injuries, but no one was seriously injured. The travelers were transported to an emergency center in Mosfellsbær.
The passengers were grateful for the care they received.
“We knew we’d be in good hands and that turned out to be the case. They [the rescue workers] had to help us through the storm, which I thought would blow us away… and then we arrived here and we enjoy it to the fullest; you sense the legendary Icelandic hospitality,” remarked Kate Griffin, one of the Canadian passengers.
Icy roads were reported on many mountain roads last night, causing numerous vehicles to land off the road, while others got stuck in snow. A truck driver lost control of his vehicle in stormy weather shortly before midnight near Víðihlíð, Northwest Iceland, between Hvammstangi and Blönduós, ending up blocking the road. There is a detour through Vatnsnesvegur.
Öxnadalsheiði mountain pass in North Iceland has been reopened after being closed last night. Mountain roads in every part of the country are icy or with icy spots, and most other roads are covered with snow.
Please follow road conditions at road.is and the weather forecast at en.vedur.is.
