Whanganui Chronicle

Injured tourists still in hospital after bus crash

- By NZME and Anne-Marie McDonald

Three tourists who were injured during a bus crash in the central North Island on Sunday are still being treated in Whanganui Hospital.

The bus driver and 14 passengers were injured during the crash at the intersecti­on of SH48 and SH47, between National Park and Turangi, and were taken to various hospitals around the central North Island.

A Whanganui Hospital spokeswoma­n said yesterday that the three tourists were in a stable condition.

Two passengers at Rotorua Hospital and three at Waikato Hospital were also in a stable condition, while those who had been taken to Taupo Hospital for treatment had been discharged.

Four people were seriously injured in the crash, including one woman who was trapped and partially submerged in water, after the bus ended up in a stream.

The tourists, who were aged in their 60s and from the United States and Britain, were travelling with Aucklandba­sed tour company MoaTrek and were on their way to Napier when the crash occurred just after 8am.

MoaTrek director Miles Clark yesterday said staff from his company were supporting the passengers.

“Nine clients have been discharged so far but six others, including the bus driver, remain in hospital. MoaTrek will make arrangemen­ts for those discharged to travel back to Auckland.

“MoaTrek staff will remain on site in Whanganui and Rotorua to continue offering assistance to affected clients.”

Mr Clark said he had spent time with the injured in Taupo on Sunday, and spent yesterday with patients in Rotorua.

“I and the rest of the MoaTrek team will continue today to provide assistance first hand in terms of recovery and support, including accommodat­ion and transport,” he said.

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