Traffic accident in northern Ethiopia leaves 17 dead

ADDIS ABABA, Nov.1 (Xinhua) -- A traffic accident in Ethiopia's Amhara regional state has left 17 people dead , local authorities said on Friday.

The accident happened on Thursday afternoon when a bus overturned and fell into a deep ditch leaving 17 passengers dead, according to a press statement from the Traffic Police Department, Gonji-Qolala locality in the Amhara regional state.

The cause of the accident is being investigated by the police.

Deadly traffic accidents are common in Ethiopia where bad roads, reckless driving, a flawed driving license issuance system, and lax enforcement of safety rules are to blame.