Tour bus crashes in Utah, 6 dead

The driver blamed brake failure for the crash on a mountain road.

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NEPHI, Utah (CNN) -- Six elderly women died and at least 19 others were injured Wednesday when their tour bus crashed on a mountain road during a fall foliage tour, authorities said.

Utah State Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Doug McCleve said the injuries ranged from minor to critical. Nine people were airlifted to area hospitals.

The bus was traveling on Nebo's Loop near Nephi, about 25 miles south of Provo, with 26 female senior citizens and one driver, McCleve said. The bus, which is owned by Donna's Tours, went off the right side of the road and landed on its right side shortly before 1 p.m. (3 p.m. ET).

The driver told investigators his brakes failed as he negotiated the turns on the winding mountain road, McCleve said, However, authorities are also looking at other possibilities as to what caused the crash, including rainy weather.

"It's going to take some time to determine the cause," he said.

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