On March 8, 2003, near the settlement of Nažidla in Bujanov, Czechia, a Neoplan Skyliner double-decker tour bus carrying 53 people veered off European route E55 and overturned, rolling seven meters down a slope and killing 19.[1][2][3] A twentieth victim died of his injuries two and a half years later.[4] 26 more people were severely injured.[3] The passengers were members and family of the TJ Slovan Karlovy Vary swimming club returning from a skiing trip in the Alps; half of the victims were under 20 years old.[3][4] It is considered the worst transport accident on Czech territory since the breakup of Czechoslovakia.[4]
The bus' driver, Pavel Krbec, who survived the crash, was sentenced to eight years in prison for endangerment, but was released after five.[3] Krbec was a taxi driver who had a bus license, but had not gone through the required training to drive professionally and had faked his credentials.[4]