Passengers remain in hospital after Akaroa crash

A tourist bus crashed down a hill near Akaroa. Photo: NZ Herald
A tourist bus crashed down a hill near Akaroa. Photo: NZ Herald

Police will continue to investigate a bus crash that left several people, including cruise ship tourists injured at Akaroa last night.

Police said the examination of the scene should be concluded by 11am this morning before the bus is recovered from the bank.

Four people were still in Christchurch Hospital following the crash, police said.

"The driver of the car involved is in a critical condition, the bus driver is in a serious but stable condition, and two of the bus passengers are in a stable condition," police said.

Another three bus passengers were treated and discharged last night, police said.

The Royal Caribbean cruise line said the most seriously injured of the 31 passengers were from the United States.

The bus, which was transporting passengers back to the Celebrity Solstice cruise ship, collided with a car before plunging down a steep bank yesterday afternoon.

Royal Caribbean Cruises spokesman Owen Torres said six guests from the US were among the injured along with the drivers of both vehicles.

The remaining passengers had returned to the ship and were continuing their trip around New Zealand. The ship has now arrived at Dunedin.

Four tourists had been discharged from hospital overnight and the company's care team was helping with their travels.

"All other guests have returned to the ship. Our thoughts are with all those involved and we are praying for their speedy recovery," Mr Torres said.

Police said the bus and the car collided just after 5pm and the bus ended up down a bank near the intersection of Summit Rd and the Christchurch Akaroa Rd.

Two people suffered critical injuries, five were serious and one person has moderate injuries. Those with the worst injuries were flown to hospital by rescue helicopter.

Another 26 people, who either had minor or no injuries, were taken to Akaroa Fire Station on another bus for paramedics to assess them before rejoining the cruise liner in Akaroa Harbour. The ship has now arrived in Dunedin.

Camera operator Matthew Simons said the bus was about 50m down the bank and a blue Toyota was on the road.

Debris from the smash was strewn on the road and the front of the car was mangled. Pieces of the car were lined up on the side of the road, resting on a bank.

Tragedy has struck Celebrity Solstice on New Zealand roads three times in the past few months.

A Canadian passenger from the ship was severely injured when he was hit by a campervan while cycling with his partner on Otago Peninsula nearly two weeks ago.

And an elderly American woman who was on board in November was killed while riding a bike in Tauranga the day the ship arrived in the city.

The same afternoon a bus carrying ship passengers collided with a car on State Highway 29. The car's driver died, but nobody on the bus was injured.

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