Swiss authorities are investigating why the coach overturned in a construction zone near Susch as Dutch officials assist victims and their families.
SUSCH, Switzerland — Five Dutch tourists were killed and 40 others injured Thursday when a tour bus left an Alpine road and overturned in a construction zone near Susch, Swiss police said, as investigators continued examining the cause and Dutch officials assisted victims and their families.
The Sept. 10 crash happened at about 4:45 p.m. near Less as the Dutch coach traveled from Zernez toward Susch in the eastern canton of Graubünden. Cantonal police said 45 adults were aboard. Five died, while three people suffered serious injuries, seven had moderately serious injuries and 30 received minor injuries. Authorities have not announced a final determination of what caused the coach to leave the roadway.
Police said the bus was passing through a roadwork area when it went off the road and overturned. Earlier accounts said the coach struck a roadside safety barrier before overturning. Investigators have said they do not believe another vehicle was involved. The Graubünden public prosecutor’s office and cantonal police are jointly examining the circumstances of the crash, including what happened as the coach traveled through the construction area.
Swiss public broadcaster RTR reported that investigators are also examining whether conditions at the roadwork site played a role. Police spokesman Roman Rüegg said the construction area had been marked, while authorities have not confirmed reports suggesting the driver was forced to avoid an object in the road. Officials have cautioned that the exact sequence of events remains under investigation.
The crash led to a large rescue operation in the mountainous Engadine region. Police said seven rescue helicopters from Rega, Alpine Air Ambulance and Heli Austria were deployed along with 13 ambulance teams. The injured were taken to several hospitals. Firefighters from Zernez and Scuol, road rescue personnel, medical teams, police specialists, forensic workers and other agencies also assisted at the scene.
The municipality of Zernez established a gathering point for people affected by the crash and arranged food and other support as emergency crews worked into the night. Members of a regional care team and a local Samaritan organization also helped. Images released from the area showed the large coach on its side beside the road while rescuers and emergency vehicles surrounded the site.
Dutch authorities said the five people who died had been identified and their families informed. Dutch and Swiss media, citing the Netherlands’ Foreign Affairs Ministry, reported that the victims were four women and one man, all older than 70. Their names had not been made public. Dutch Ambassador to Switzerland Karin Mössenlechner visited injured passengers and met with relatives following the crash.
The passengers were traveling with Dutch tour operator Oad. The company said it was “deeply shocked and devastated by the tragic bus accident” and expressed sympathy for the victims and their loved ones. Dutch emergency assistance provider Eurocross said the passengers were Dutch nationals and was helping coordinate support for people hospitalized after the crash.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin expressed condolences to the victims’ families and said authorities would conduct a thorough investigation. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands also expressed sympathy for those who lost relatives, those awaiting information about loved ones and the injured. The government of Graubünden thanked the emergency workers involved and held a moment of silence for the victims Friday.
The crash occurred in a remote Alpine area between Zernez and Susch near the Swiss National Park. The terrain and number of casualties required rescue aircraft and medical teams from several organizations, with some patients treated outside the immediate area. Zernez serves as a gateway to the national park and the wider Engadine region.
By Saturday, Eurocross said some of those affected by the crash could begin returning to the Netherlands during the weekend, including patients who might need medical assistance during the trip. The investigation into why the coach left the road remains open, and Swiss authorities had not announced a final cause as of Sept. 12.
Author note: Last updated September 12, 2026.