CAIRO, Nov 10 (Aswat Masriya) – Egypt's top prosecutor referred on Monday two drivers implicated in a school bus crash which killed 18 last week to the criminal court for murder, among other charges.

Prosecutor General Hisham Barakat charged the school bus driver and a truck driver with murder, injury and vandalism of private property. The truck driver was also charged with drug abuse.

Both defendants are to remain in custody pending trial.

The prosecution's investigation revealed that the bus driver was speeding on the Cairo-Alexandria Agricultural Road in Beheira when he was interrupted by the truck driver, according to a public prosecution statement. Both vehicles crashed into one another, joined by a private car and two other trucks.

Investigation also revealed the two drivers' "carelessness" and violation of traffic laws, the statement read. It added that the truck driver was under the influence of drugs at the time of the accident.

A preliminary technical report issued on the school bus crash which occurred on Wednesday owed the accident to the "carelessness" of the speeding truck driver.

Egypt's cabinet issued on Wednesday evening a new legislation restricting trucks' traffic hours within cities to nighttime in reaction to the deadly crash.

The new decision, which will be enacted starting November 15, only allows trucks to drive through cities from 11 pm to 6 am. 

The cabinet also approved a draft law submitted by the presidency amending the traffic law in a manner which stipulates harsher penalties for wrong-way driving, driving under drug influence or exceeding the speed limit.

The draft law will be referred to the State Council for revision before being issued by the president.

Road accidents are a common occurrence in Egypt, being among the prime causes of death in the Arab world's most populous country.

According to a report released by the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) in June, the number of car accidents occurring in Egypt in 2013 rose by 0.4 percent when compared to the 2012 figure.