Cruise ship passengers involved in second fatal crash

Celebrity Solstice cruised into Tauranga on Monday morning. Photo/George Novak

A person was killed after a car and a bus carrying cruise-ship passengers collided near Te Poi yesterday.

The bus was returning tourists to their ship, Celebrity Solstice, after a trip to Hobbiton when the accident happened at 11.25am.

The driver of the car died but the occupants of the bus were unharmed.

Matamata Fire Brigade volunteer support officer Peter Baylis said the crash happened on a sweeping, deep bendon State Highway 29, east of Te Poi.

While the serious crash and commercial vehicle investigation units investigated, SH29 between Stopford Rd and Tauranga Rd was closed and diversions were in place.

Police had not released any more details about the person who died at edition time.

Tourism Bay of Plenty chief executive Kristin Dunne said the cruise ship passengers were takenback to the ship by another bus and were supported by the ship's victim support.

She said the Tourism Bay of Plenty team were saddened that two separate fatalities occurred in the region yesterday.

A Celebrity Cruise spokeswoman said some of the passengers sustained minor injuries on the bus but all returned safely to the ship.

She said it was a tragic event.

Renaissance Tours organised the shore activities and managing director Tony Petrie said the guests were extremely shaken by the accident.

They had done a tour of Hobbiton and were returning to the ship when the accident happened, he said.

"They had praise for the coach driver, the way the driver acted following the crash."

Mr Petrie said it was a dreadful accident and his heart went out for the victim and their family.

Celebrity Solstice was scheduled to sail out of Tauranga at 8.30 last night.

CRUISE NZ
Cruise NZ extended sympathy to the families of victims of yesterday's tragedies. A spokeswoman said the accidents were "highly unusual" as the health and safety practices of all tour operators used by passengers were closely scrutinised. Cruise NZ reassured visitors that their safety was paramount at all times.