A tour bus carrying 11 passengers veered off the road and crashed into a rock embankment on the Dullstroom/R540 road just before 13:00 on February 19.

The bus was transporting 10 American tourists along with a driver and a tour guide. The group was traveling from Johannesburg to the Kruger National Park, intending to take the scenic Panorama Route when the accident occurred.

According to reports, two of the tourists sustained serious injuries and were taken to Belfast Hospital for treatment. They were stabilized and are not in critical condition. The remaining eight tourists were also transported to the hospital for observation.

The driver and tour guide remained at the scene. One of the tourists, Barry Cuples from California, recounted the terrifying experience. A qualified first responder and firefighter, Cuples assisted emergency personnel in safely evacuating the other passengers.

“It’s a miracle that there were no other serious injuries. Most of us were wearing our seat belts, including my wife and me,” he said.

Apart from minor scrapes and cuts, Cuples, his wife, and six other tourists were unharmed.

The visibly shaken bus driver explained that wet road conditions caused the vehicle to lose traction around a bend, slide into the oncoming lane, and collide with the embankment. No other vehicles were involved in the accident.

Emergency personnel, including Netcare 911, the Ehlanzeni Fire and Rescue Department, and police officers from Dullstroom and Lydenburg, arrived within minutes.

All passengers will be accommodated in various guest houses in Belfast until alternative transport is arranged. It remains uncertain whether the tour will continue.