British woman killed in NZ crash

Police said the 62-year-old woman, who lived in Spain, died instantly when the tour bus crashed in the Buller District of the West Coast region.

The bus, which was operated by Stray Travel Ltd, crashed at 1550 local time (0250 GMT) on Saturday.

It was travelling towards Greymouth and left the road on State Highway 6 about 3km south of Charleston Township. The woman's next of kin have been informed.

They have requested her name is not released.

Westport Police said the bus carrying 17 overseas tourists rolled down a bank, stopping against a tree about 20 metres below the roadway.

Wet road

Six other passengers were transported to hospital, including one who was airlifted to Greymouth for treatment. One passenger remains in hospital in a serious condition.

"She's lucky to have escaped with what sounds like just a bit of bruising"
David Lewis, whose daughter Amy was on the bus

The driver, a 36-year-old male, has been interviewed by police and an investigation is under way.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of the incident, but we cannot confirm any names until we have spoken to next of kin. Our consul will be visiting British nationals who are still in the hospital at first light."

David Lewis, of Ammanford, south Wales, told the BBC News website his 23-year-old daughter Amy, who is on a post-university tour of Australia and New Zealand, had called to say she was involved in the crash.

"She was sitting next to the women who died and was talking to her," he said. "And then this lady said she was going to the front of the bus because she was getting off at the next stop and that was when the accident happened.

"Apparently the road was wet and the coach slipped down the bank and turned over four times and there were no seat belts.

"When I spoke to Amy this morning she was very upset and I couldn't get much detail out of her. But she's lucky to have escaped with what sounds like just a bit of bruising."