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PHILLIPA YALDEN, JO LINES-MACKENZIE AND LIBBY WILSON

Last updated 20:35, November twenty two 2016

One person was killed in a collision inbetween a car and bus utter of cruise ship passengers near Matamata.

Two separate tragedies have struck a group of cruise ship passengers in Tauranga in the space of a day.

An American woman, who was a passenger on the Celebrity Solstice, was killed after being struck by a truck about 12.15pm on Tuesday while on a cycling tour

The 71-year-old died at the scene of the accident, at the intersection of Mirrielees Rd and Te Awanui Dr.

A 71-year-old cruise ship passenger died in Tauranga after an accident on a cycle tour.

No one else was injured.

Earlier in the day, a Bethlehem Coachlines bus carrying a group of cruise ship passengers was involved in a head-on collision with a car about 11.30am.

The cruise ship passengers on the bus involved in a fatal crash were transferred to a 2nd bus for their journey back to Tauranga.

The driver of the car, who was the foot occupant, died at the scene on State Highway 29, near the intersection with Stopford Rd, east of Te Poi.

“The bus has all the safety features, so no one was hurt, but very upset, because when you are sitting up high you see a lot,” proprietor Neil Jamieson said.

The shaken passengers were transferred to another bus and returned to the Celebrity Solstice, where they received support from the team.

‘The bus has all the safety features, so no one was hurt, but very upset,’ proprietor Neil Jamieson said.

The fattest concern for the passengers was how the driver of the bus was holding up.

“They praised the fact that the influence was right at driver’s corner but he still ensured that the passengers were fine and comfy.”

It is the very first time in twenty eight years of operation that Bethlehem Coachlines has been involved in an accident of this magnitude, Jamieson said.

“We transport over 300,000 people a year and do about the same amount of kilometres. You attempt your hardest and are aware that tourism is so significant to us. We spend a lot in training but sometimes things are just out of our control,” Jamieson said.

Bay of Slew Tourism chief executive Kristin Dunne was at the scene of the cycle accident, and she and her team worked to help those involved.

“Our heartfelt sympathies and condolences go to the deceased and her family at this time. Our concentrate is on doing everything we can to help the police with their investigations,” she said in a statement.

The two accidents had deeply saddened the organisation, Dunne said.

“The safety and wellbeing of tourists in our region is of the utmost importance. Now, our concern is with the victims and supporting the investigations that are underway.”

Representatives from Cruise Fresh Zealand, the industry association for the cruise sector, contacted the Celebrity Solstice after the incidents to suggest their sympathies and support.

“It’s just such an unfortunate set of circumstances for an otherwise glad event,” executive officer Kevin O’Sullivan said.

“For something like this to occur is just so sad.”

The tour and coach companies involved were well-known and respected operators, Cruise Fresh Zealand said.

Cruise companies have plans to put into place when accidents happen but fortunately it is a relatively infrequent occurrence, O’Sullivan said.

The team on the Celebrity Solstice was working hard to support passengers, the woman’s family and to help police as they investigated.

It was not clear whether the ship would need to stay another night in Tauranga, he said.

The commercial vehicle investigation unit and the police serious crash unit were investigating the incidents.

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