Dozens of Tongans families won’t celebrate this Xmas, thanks (!) to the New Zealand EXPERIENCE
At least two people were killed and 45 others injured nine of them seriously, which were flown to hospitals in Gisborne and Hastings, following a bus crash on SH 2 near Wharerata, south of Gisborne late last night, police said.
Additionally, 36 people were “transported to the St Johns Ambulance base in Gisborne for further triage and assessment.”
The bus carrying over 45 passengers crashed down a bank around 9:30pm on the road between Wairoa and Gisborne.
The passengers are believed to be mainly Tongan school students, who are visiting New Zealand to fundraise for their school in Tonga. The group were travelling to Gisborne where they were due to perform as a band on Christmas Day.
It is yet to be confirmed exactly how many people were on the bus when it crashed and Police are working closely with the group to ensure all passengers have been accounted for.
L-R: Talita Moimoi, 20, and Sione Taumalolo, 12. Photo: http://nzkanivapacific.co.nz
The bus, with 46 brass band members from a college in Vava’u in Tonga, were on their way to Gisborne to perform at a church today.
Two people are confirmed dead, one person is in a critical condition and one is stable at Hastings Hospital. A further person is in a serious condition at Gisborne Hospital and seven people are in a stable condition.
The bus appeasers to have crashed through a barrier at about 9.30pm last night before plunging about 100 metres down a cliff on State Highway Two, about 30km south of Gisborne, police said.
The location of the crash scene is approximately 100m down a steep bank. Serious Crash Unit have attended and report that the extraction of the bus is likely to be challenging and may take a number of days to complete due to the terrain and availability of the necessary heavy equipment during the Christmas period.
How Many Foreigners Killed in NZ Since 2000?
More than 3,500 overseas visitors, international students, foreign workers, recent emigrants and refugees have lost their lives and 20,000 others seriously injured in New Zealand since year 2000.
Other News in Drips…
Meanwhile….
An 18-year-old foreign tourist suffered a serious spinal injury while swimming in the surf at Opotiki on Christmas Eve. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11772931
And…
One killed in water incident in east Auckland suburb of Beachlands http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11772949
News Updates…
Motorcyclist killed in a crash on SH2 in south Wairarapa
“The crash, between a motorcycle and a ute, occurred just after 7pm, near the bottom of the Rimutaka Hill,” police said.
Boy, 4, drowns in an east Auckland pool
A 4-year-old boy has drowned in a pool in the east Auckland suburb of Beachlands, according to the local police. [Don’t uncaring parents make you feel sick? Moderator N.]
