Eight UK tourists killed in South Africa crash

02 Jan, 2004

Eight British tourists were killed in South Africa on Wednesday when the minibus they were riding in overturned, police said on Thursday.
Captain Joshua Gwala said the accident occurred near Bergville in northern KwaZulu-Natal province when the driver of the bus suddenly swerved in an attempt to avoid a pedestrian.
"It is believed that during the process the driver lost control and the minibus overturned," Gwala said in a statement, adding that the pedestrian was also killed in the accident.
Six tourists died on the scene and another two died shortly thereafter as a result of their injuries, police said.
A spokeswoman for the Ladysmith Provincial Hospital said four other members of the group, including the South African driver and a tour guide, were treated for injuries and released.
A total of five tour group members, including one Canadian, survived the accident, officials said.
Britain's Foreign Office said British consular officers were at the scene of the crash, which occurred near the Royal Natal national park in KwaZulu-Natal's Drakensberg mountains. Families of the victims were being informed, police said.

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