Five dead and 40 injured in Dutch coach crash in Graubünden

Five people died and 40 others were injured when a Dutch tour coach overturned in southeastern Switzerland on Thursday, September 10, 2026, according to Graubünden cantonal police. The crash happened near Less, between Zernez and Susch, in an area affected by roadworks.

The coach was carrying 45 adult passengers as it travelled through the Engadin. Police described the incident as a single vehicle accident. The coach veered off the road and overturned, leaving emergency crews to deal with a large number of casualties in difficult Alpine terrain.

Three passengers suffered serious injuries, seven sustained moderate injuries and 30 had minor injuries. Police released the figures on Friday, September 11.

The accident has placed emergency services across the region under immediate pressure and prompted a coordinated response involving air and ground teams. Authorities have not released the identities or nationalities of those who died. The passengers belonged to a Dutch tour group, making the crash an international incident in one of Switzerland's most visited tourism regions.

Seven rescue helicopters and 13 ambulance teams took part in the operation after the coach overturned. Helicopters from Switzerland and abroad transported casualties from the remote crash site to hospitals, while ambulance crews supported the evacuation on the ground.

The scale of the response reflected the number and severity of the injuries. Forty passengers required medical attention, including three people with serious injuries. The operation involved several emergency services working across a mountainous road corridor where access can be slowed by terrain, construction work and narrow routes.

The response also extended beyond the immediate rescue. The municipality of Zernez opened a reception centre for people involved in the crash and provided refreshments. Such centres give survivors and others affected by a major incident a place to wait for information and assistance while medical and police operations continue.

Authorities have not identified the hospitals that received the injured. Police have also not said how long the road was closed or whether the roadworks directly affected the coach's path. The cause of the crash remains unknown.

The crash occurred in a roadworks area near Less, on the route linking Zernez and Susch. The road forms part of the transport network through the Engadin, a region known for high Alpine passes, villages and international tourism.

Police said the coach left the road before overturning. Their initial account classifies the incident as a single vehicle crash, but it does not establish why the driver lost control. Investigators will examine the road layout, the work zone, weather and visibility, the coach's condition, and the driver's actions. Those details have not yet been released.

The location matters because rescue operations in southeastern Graubünden can require careful coordination between local services and air rescue units. In this case, helicopters from Switzerland and abroad joined the operation, while ambulance teams moved injured passengers to hospitals.

The Dutch tour group's presence also underlines the international character of Swiss Alpine travel. Coaches regularly carry visitors through Graubünden's mountain corridors, where road safety depends on clear signage, controlled work zones and careful driving. No official finding has linked the roadworks to the crash.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation, and police have not announced any arrests, charges or preliminary explanation. Investigators will now work to reconstruct the coach's movement from Zernez towards Susch and establish what happened before it left the road.

The inquiry is likely to draw on vehicle inspections, witness accounts and evidence from the crash site. Officials may also assess the roadworks area and any available records from the coach. At this stage, authorities have confirmed only that the vehicle overturned and that no other vehicle was involved.

For survivors and relatives, the immediate priority is medical care and reliable information. The reception centre in Zernez has provided a local point of support while hospitals treat the injured and officials coordinate with the Dutch tour group.

The tragedy will also bring renewed attention to the safety of coach travel through Swiss mountain regions. Any lessons for road operators, construction managers or emergency planners will depend on the findings of the official investigation. Graubünden police are expected to provide further information as the inquiry progresses.