Report: 4 cruise ship passengers killed in Belize following two separate car crashes
Four tourists were killed in two separate car crashes in Belize last week, leaving many more injured.
According to PEOPLE, Jacquline Abad, 53, and Sara Armijo, 51, were both killed when their van, which was carrying five other cruise ship tourists, struck an SUV head-on on a Belmopan City road. The impact also killed three of the SUVs' passengers, all of whom were from Belize, on impact. Authorities say the driver of that SUV was at fault.
Dallas News later reported that Adrian Armijo, Sara's husband, passed away at the hospital from his injuries. The couple was four days into their week-long trip on Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Vista.
Less than 24 hours after the crash, 77-year-old Carolyn Gillis was killed when she was thrown through the windshield of a van in North Belize. The driver of the vehicle said a tire blowout was responsible for flipping the car several times. Gillis, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was reportedly traveling with six other family members on a cruise ship excursion.
Both groups' tours were independent of the cruise line.
“Sadly, two of our guests have died and the five others who were injured will continue their medical care in US,” Carnival Cruise Line told PEOPLE. “Our Carnival CareTeam and medical staff are supporting guests and their families.”
“Please keep our guests and their families in your thoughts and prayers,” the company continued. MSC Cruises also confirmed that six of their passengers aboard one of their ships were injured in an incident.
"On November 27, 2019 at around 4:00 PM local time, six passengers of MSC Meraviglia were injured while on an independent and self-organized excursion in Belize when the bus they had reserved for their private tour was involved in a road accident," the company said in a statement to AOL. "Unfortunately, one person passed away, while five other MSC Cruises passengers with non-life-threatening injuries were taken to hospital for medical care. Regrettably, also a number of passengers from another cruise line, the driver of the bus and passengers from the other vehicle sustained serious to fatal injuries."
"We are in close contact with the authorities, as well as the relevant embassy and consular services, and our first priority now is to ensure the swift repatriation of the deceased," they continued. "We are deeply saddened by this incident and offer our sincerest condolences to the families and those affected."
