Cruise ship passengers in hospital after bus crash

Six passengers from the "Celebrity Solstice" were being treated in Christchurch Hospital after a horror bus crash on Akaroa peninsula. The most seriously injured of the 31 passengers were from the United States. The bus, which was transporting passengers back to the cruise ship, collided with a car before plunging down a steep bank in the afternoon of Feb 22, 2017. Six persons from the United States were among the injured along with the drivers of both vehicles. The remaining passengers returned to the ship. The cruise company had sent members of its care team to Christchurch to offer immediate support and assistance to the injured passengers. The bus and the car collided just after 5 p.m. and the bus ended up down a bank near the intersection of Summit Rd and the Christchurch Akaroa Rd. Those with the worst injuries were flown to hospital by rescue helicopter. Two were critically injured and at least five suffered serious injuries. An eighth person with moderate injuries was taken to hospital by ambulance. 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.