By Donald Wood From Travel Pulse

Two cruise ship passengers on a land excursion in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, were killed and another 18 people were injured when a bus carrying them crashed Sunday.

According to Virgin Islands News Online, passengers from the Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Summit ship were on a trip to Cane Garden Bay Beach when the bus they were riding in lost control and crashed on a hill described as “steep and wet.”

While no further information was available surrounding the cause of the crash, two passengers were pronounced dead at the scene and those suffering from injuries were transported to nearby Peebles Hospital in Road Town.

The office for British Virgin Islands Premier Orlando Smith released a statement, saying, “First responders, including the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, Fire and Rescue Department, (and) medical personnel were mobilized, along with members of the BVI Tourist Board, and cruise ship personnel from the Celebrity Summit cruise line, to provide assistance to the visitors involved.”

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. also released a statement about the tragic incident:

“We are saddened to report the deaths of two Celebrity Summit guests after a local bus accident late this morning in Tortola. Our ship’s captain and others have gone to the hospital in order to help respond to this terrible incident, and our response is being coordinated with local officials and our Miami headquarters. Local officials tell us that there were 20 passengers on the bus, 16 of whom suffered injuries. In addition to the two fatalities, officials have told us there were also two critical injuries. Several of the injured guests have been treated and released, and will rejoin the ship shortly. The bus was independently operated, and not part of any Celebrity-sponsored shore excursion. We will refer questions about the accident and its investigation to local authorities.”

IMAGE: Photo courtesy of Thinkstock

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