At least 17 people were killed and seven others injured on Monday after a passenger coach collided with a parked bus on the Swat Expressway in northwestern Pakistan.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmed Faizi said the accident occurred near Khoro Kotay when the coach struck a bus parked along the roadside. All 17 passengers died at the scene, with the injured transferred to Mardan Medical Complex for treatment.

What caused the Swat Expressway crash on Monday?

Police said the coach went out of control before striking the stationary bus, which had been parked on the roadside.

The bus was travelling from Karachi to Buner, while the coach was en route from Rawalpindi to Dir. Initial findings pointed to reckless driving and negligence on the part of the coach driver as the primary cause of the crash.

How did rescue teams and hospitals respond to the Swat Expressway crash?

Rescue 1122 teams and Motorway Police arrived quickly at the scene, shifting the deceased and injured to Mardan Medical Complex.

Hospital director Dr. Muhammad Ibrar said a high alert was declared at the facility given the large number of casualties and the critical condition of several passengers. Staff from cardiology and surgical departments were called in to support emergency response teams.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi expressed grief over the incident and extended condolences to the families of the victims.

Provincial Information Minister Shafi Ullah Jan also expressed sorrow over the crash, saying all possible medical assistance was being provided to the injured.