2 Americans on Carnival Cruise trip dead; 5 injured in Belize tour bus crash

By Devoun Cetoute

Miami Herald

After traveling to Belize on a Carnival Cruise Line ship, two Americans were killed and five were injured in an independent tour bus crash.

Riding in a Dodge passenger van, Jacqueline Abad, 53, and Sara Armijo, 51, were killed Wednesday as they were traveling to Belmopan City, NBC News reported. Five other Americans were hurt, suffering injuries such as broken legs and arms, pelvic fractures and dislocated kneecaps.

Seven people involved in the crash were on an independent tour in Belize after they had gotten off the Carnival Vista, a Carnival Cruise Line statement said. Along with the Carnival guests, there were others from at least one other cruise line on the tour bus.

The five injured Americans will continue being treated in the U.S., Carnival said.

The tour bus hit a Chevrolet SUV head-on when the SUV went into its lane trying to overtake another car, NBC News said. Three passengers in the SUV died on impact, and the driver was found at fault.

The Carnival Vista is on a seven-day voyage that departed Galveston, Texas, last Saturday and is scheduled to return to Galveston this Sunday. It is still traveling as planned, Carnival said.