Eight nuns killed in Indonesia when van plunges off bridge

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Eight Franciscan Sisters of Charity died when the minivan in which they were traveling drove off a bridge and plunged into a river.

The accident was blamed on faulty brakes.

The accident, which occurred in a village in Indonesia’s South Sumatra province at 5:30 a.m. Feb. 18, also killed the driver. One other sister, also from the same congregation, was in critical condition, said a secretary to the provincial superior of the congregation in the provincial capital of Palembang.

The secretary said the eight nuns and driver “died on the spot.” The nuns were traveling to the funeral of another Franciscan sister.

Speaking over the phone, the secretary said the minivan fell into the Lubai River about 100 miles south of Palembang.