Eight die in minibus tragedy

Thursday, 1 January 2004 12:08 AM

Eight Britons have been killed in a minibus crash in South Africa, the Foreign Office has confirmed.

Two other British nationals survived the road accident in the Royal Natal National Park, close to the Drakensberg mountains, a popular tourist area.

A pedestrian who had run out onto the road caused the oncoming minibus to swerve and overturn, according to a Foreign Office spokeswoman.

Five men and three women died in the "tragic accident."

The Foreign Office spokesman said: "We understand they were in a minibus.

"It was one of those tragic accidents. Someone ran out into the road causing the driver to swerve.

"There was a police investigation. They are not blaming the driver for the crash."

The pedestrian has been identified as 20-year-old Pelepele Miya.

The Britons had been on a walking safari.

The Foreign Office said it would be contacting relatives of the tourists.

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