Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Shore Excursion Accident in Tortola

Statement from Princess Cruises

We are deeply saddened to report that at approximately 9:35 am local time yesterday in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, a tour bus carrying a group of Caribbean Princess passengers left the road and rolled over, killing one passenger, and injuring several others. A total of 20 passengers were on the bus. The passenger who passed away was a 24-year-old man from Rochester, New York. He was traveling with his parents, who were with him on the tour bus. Our thoughts and prayers are with this family, and we are providing support to them during this difficult time.

The injured passengers were taken to a local hospital, where they were evaluated and released. The other passengers on the bus returned to Caribbean Princess. All of these passengers are being looked after by the ship's staff and Princess care team members who are en route to the ship.

We are still in the process of determining the details of the accident but it appears as though the bus left the road and turned over as it was taking passengers on a "Tropical Forest Hike and Beach" excursion.

Caribbean Princess is on a 7-day Southern Caribbean cruise from San Juan calling at St. Thomas, Tortola, Antigua, St. Lucia, and Barbados.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

We were in Tortola and heard the sirens off in the distance. At 11:30 our group got in the cab we had hired for the day and took off to look around. We passed the accident scene. We were told that the bus had parked on the steep hill to allow passengers to take pictures of the sweeping vistas. Unfortunately the airbrakes failed and the driver could not stop the vehicle. Our sympathies to the family.