Eight British tourists were killed in South Africa on Wednesday when the minibus they were travelling in overturned.
Police said the accident occurred near Bergville in northern KwaZulu-Natal province when the driver of the bus suddenly swerved in an attempt to avoid a pedestrian. "It is believed the driver lost control and the minibus overturned." The pedestrian was also killed in the accident.
Six tourists died on the scene and another two died shortly thereafter as a result of their injuries, police said.
A spokeswoman for the Ladysmith Provincial Hospital said four other members of the group, including the South African driver and a tour guide, were treated for injuries and released.
Five tour group members survived the accident, officials said.
The crash occurred near the Royal Natal National Park in the Drakensberg mountains. The park is home to some of Drakensberg's most dramatic scenery including the Amphitheatre - a rock wall about 5 km in length, and approximately 1 km in height.
A British High Commission spokesman said the group had been on a camping trip and that survivors would be assisted in returning to Britain.
South Africa has some of the world's most dangerous roads, logging about 500,000 crashes each year in which an estimated 10,000 people are killed.
A local resident, who witnessed the crash, said the pedestrian who was killed had spoken that day of wanting to commit suicide.
"A man was walking around telling people he wanted to kill himself but no one took him seriously," she said through a translator.
"Suddenly I saw him on the road walking in front of cars. Most cars were stopping or going round him.
"The bus tried to avoid him but the trailer hit him," she said. "The bus swerved across the road and into a ditch.I was so scared I had to leave."
Capt Joshua Gwala, of KwaZulu-Natal Police, confirmed that the young man triggered the accident when he stepped on to the road in front of the minibus. - (Reuters)