On Friday, a devastating incident occurred at a Honolulu cruise terminal in Hawaii, resulting in one fatality and multiple injuries. According to reports from both the police and Carnival Cruise Line, a shuttle bus tragically collided with pedestrians near a pier, causing chaos and destruction.
The unfortunate event unfolded when a bystander alerted the bus driver that the vehicle was in motion. In a frantic attempt to intervene, the driver mistakenly pressed the gas pedal instead of the brakes, propelling the bus forward into a group of individuals.
Witness Janet Lightfoot recounted the harrowing moment, stating, 'Somebody screamed, and then I looked over and the bus hit into the crowd. It just kept going until it hit the wall there.'
The bus careened into concrete barriers and struck a total of 11 people, resulting in five individuals being rushed to hospitals for medical attention. Tragically, one woman succumbed to her injuries, while the remaining victims were reported to be in stable condition. Additionally, six individuals declined medical treatment.
Carnival Cruise Line confirmed that nine guests from the Carnival Miracle ship were involved in the accident, including the deceased woman who was traveling with her husband, who sustained injuries but is expected to recover.
Authorities have initiated investigations into the incident, with initial findings suggesting that speed was not a contributing factor. The Honolulu Police Department stated, 'It is unknown if drugs or alcohol were contributing factors to this collision.'
Efforts to reach out to the shuttle bus company for comments are currently underway as the investigation continues.
The Carnival Miracle, amidst the tragedy, remains on its 15-day sailing journey that commenced from Long Beach, California.
