Booking photo released of driver charged in fatal tour bus crash

NEW CASTLE, Del. (WPVI) -- Delaware State Police have charged a tour bus driver in connection with a fatal crash on Sunday.

56-year-old Jinli Zhao of Flushing, New York has been charged with Operation of a Vehicle Causing Death of Another Person.

Two passengers, 54-year-old Hua'y Chen from New York City and 30-year-old Idil Bahsi from Istanbul, Turkey, were killed in the crash.

Police say the accident occurred at approximately 4:20 p.m. when the 1996 Setra Touring Coach Bus, with 49 passengers onboard, was traveling on southbound Route 1 exiting onto the off ramp to US 13 northbound in New Castle.

According to authorities, Zhao lost control of the bus while driving at an unsafe speed.

The bus exited the roadway and overturned onto its roof.

The bus continued to slide on its roof traveling down a slight grass embankment, rotating onto its left side where it came to rest.

Chen was pronounced dead at the scene.

Bahsi was transported to the Christiana Hospital Trauma Center where she was pronounced dead later that night.

Zhao was treated and admitted to the Saint Francis Hospital, Wilmington with non-life threatening injuries.

He was released on Tuesday and taken into custody where he was formally charged and arraigned.

Zhao was committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $5,000 secured bond.

Police say preliminary investigation has determined that drugs and alcohol are not considered a contributing factor.

They say additional charges are likely to be filed as the investigation progresses.

NTSB continues to conduct an independent investigation.