| 2013 Montenegro bus crash | |
| Date: | June 23, 2013 |
| Time: | ~17:30 local time |
| Location: | near Morača Monastery, Kolašin Municipality, Montenegro Coordinates: 42.7902°N 19.3939°W |
| Operator: | Gregory Tour |
| Type: | Cliff plunge |
| Cause: | Excessive speed during a rainstorm |
| Passengers: | 47 |
| Deaths: | 19[1] |
| Injuries: | 27 + 1 (pedestrian) |
The 2013 Podgorica bus crash was a traffic collision that occurred on 23 June 2013, near Kolašin, Montenegro,[2] 30 km north of Podgorica.[3] [4] [5] The crash took place when a Neoplan Tourliner coach bus departed the roadway during a heavy rainstorm and fell 40 m into a canyon.
The 47 passengers, including two drivers from bus operator Gregory Tour and a guide from the tour organizer Maree Travel, were on a six-day tour from Romania to Montenegro and Croatia. All were Romanian nationals.
The final accident report revealed the bus failed to negotiate a curve at the end of a tunnel due to the driver's excessive speed and slippery road conditions.[6] In total, 18 people were killed and another 30 wounded.
Attempts to rescue the survivors were inhibited by the rocky terrain of the region.[7]
Montenegro's Interior Minister Raško Konjević described the crash as "an extremely serious accident".[4] Milo Đukanović, the Prime Minister of Montenegro, also visited the victims at the hospital, and expressed his condolences to the Romanian Ambassador to Montenegro.[7] The Serbian Government also offered medical assistance for the injured.[7]
Victor Ponta, the Prime Minister of Romania, announced a day of national mourning [8] for the date June 26. On the same day Montenegro also observed a day of national mourning in solidarity with Romania.