Bus accident in Eleuthera leaves tourists injured

Bus accident in Eleuthera leaves tourists injured

Seven critically injured being airlifted

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – After more than two dozen people, the majority of whom were tourists, were injured in a bus accident in South Eleuthera, the government has initiated a national disaster plan inclusive of sending resources to the island, according to Attorney General Carl Bethel.

Authorities said the traffic accident took place around 11 a.m. in Rock Sound, but the circumstances surrounding the incident remains unclear.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Paul Rolle said a team of investigators was dispatched from Nassau.

Eyewitness News Online understands that seven people were in critical condition, while numerous others sustained serious injuries.

Bethel made the intervention at the close of the morning sitting in the Senate before 1 p.m.

“There have been some casualties, as yet, no deaths, but there have been casualties,” Bethel said in the Upper Chamber.

“The minister of health and the minister of national security have initiated the national disaster plan, so all resources are being allocated to swiftly send air ambulances to South Eleuthera to bring the injured persons who need hospitalized care to New Providence.”

According to the attorney general, the United States Coast Guard landed several helicopters at Odyssey Airport and were on stand-by to assist those who may require “more complex interventions”.

He offered prayers for the injured and that no one would perish.

“We hope that those who are suffering will be speedily relieved of pain and afflictions,” Bethel said.

Speaking to Eyewitness News Online around 2:30 p.m., National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Director Captain Stephen Russell said, “Coast Guard assets are in Rock Sound, Eleuthera, at this time. The Coast Guard is to evacuate seven persons to here, to New Providence — the more critically injured persons.

“And the remaining 23 persons will be transported back to their ship, the Princess Cays [Cruises], to be cared for on board the ship.

“The teams from the health sector… are on stand-by to receive persons when they come on the U.S. Coast Guard aircraft to treat them locally.”

Russell said sufficient assets had been deployed to “deal with the matter”.

 

 

 

 

 

About Royston Jones Jr.

Royston Jones Jr. is a senior digital reporter and occasional TV news anchor at Eyewitness News. Since joining Eyewitness News as a digital reporter in 2018, he has done both digital and broadcast reporting, notably providing the electoral analysis for Eyewitness News’ inaugural election night coverage, “Decision Now 2021”.