The two tourists killed in a bus wreck on Sunday morning were both women from the United States, police said Monday evening.

The women, whose names were not released, were ages 53 and 67.

Of the 18 tourists who were sent to Peebles Hospital after the accident, 14 were released, and they re-boarded the cruise ship Celebrity Summit, which has left the territory, according to police.

Of the other four, two females have been flown overseas for treatment, and a man and a woman were expected to be released later on Monday, police said.

Police also said that the single-vehicle accident occurred when the tour bus collided with a hillside embankment while descending Cane Garden Bay Hill.

See previous story below.

 

Two tourists dead, 18 sent to hospital after CGB crash

Two cruise ship tourists died and 18 more were sent to the Peebles Hospital on Sunday after a bus lost control and crashed while heading down Cane Garden Bay Hill around 11:15 a.m., police said.

Few details about the incident have been provided by authorities, who have not identified the victims or the driver.

Police have not said whether charges have been or will be made against the driver, who was the only person involved in the accident who was said to be uninjured.

Driving conditions were wet at the time of the accident.

All 20 passengers were visitors from the cruise ship Celebrity Summit, which is a part of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

A press release from Government Information Services stated that responders included the police, the Fire and Rescue Services Department, medical personnel, members of the BVI Tourist Board, and cruise ship representatives from the Celebrity Summit. A police liaison officer has also been assigned to work with the cruise line, the BVITB and families while the investigations are ongoing, according to GIS.

Earlier, the BVITB on Sunday afternoon released a statement to the media, which did not mention the deaths or provide details other than stating that the accident involved “a number of tourists who were en route to Cane Garden Bay.”

The statement asked that “out of respect for the privacy of the families that images not be shared in the public space and that blogging on the articles be curtailed.”