12 People Dead, Many Injured After Tourist Bus Flipped Over In Mexico; Americans, Swedish Among Deceased

Mexico Bus Crash — Video grab of Mexican police officers standing guard in the area where a bus driving tourists to Chacchoben archaeological zone overturned in the road between El Cafetal and Mahahual, in Quintana Roo state, Mexico on December 19, 2017. At least eleven tourists who arrived in the Mexican Caribbean on a US cruise ship were killed and another 20 injured in a road accident on Tuesday when they were heading to an archaeological zone, the Quintana Roo state government reported. Photo: MANUEL JESUS ORTEGA CANCHE/AFP/Getty Images

A tourist bus carrying a group of 31 people on board flipped over by the Mahahual - Chetumal highway in Mexico on the morning of Tuesday, December 19. So far 12 dead and 18 injured have been reported. According to the Secretariat of Public Safety of Quintana Roo, the bus transported tourists of different nationalities, and it was bound for the Mayan ruins.

The Ministry of Public Security also reported that tourists from Italy, the United States, Sweden and Canada arrived on the Royal Caribbean cruise, also said it was looking into the cause of the crash.

As presented by the Associated Press "the bus ended up on its side in vegetation along the two-lane road. Video taken after the crash showed some survivors lying on the pavement and others walking around. One body lay on the roadside covered by a white sheet or other object, as the crash scene was cordoned off with yellow police tape."

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT BELOW

Tourist Bus Crash — The body of one of the victims of a road accident lays on the floor, where a bus driving tourists to Chacchoben archaeological zone overturned between El Cafetal and Mahahual, in Quintana Roo state, Mexico on December 19, 2017. At least eleven tourists who arrived in the Mexican Caribbean on a US cruise ship were killed and another 20 injured in a road accident on Tuesday when they were heading to an archaeological zone, the Quintana Roo state government reported. Photo: MANUEL JESUS ORTEGA CANCHE/AFP/Getty Images

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City tweeted a statement expressing condolences: "We’ve seen reports of an accident involving a bus contracted by Royal Caribbean in Quintana Roo, Mexico. We express our condolences to all those affected. We are working with local authorities to determine if there were U.S. citizens on board."

We’ve seen reports of an accident involving a bus contracted by Royal Caribbean in Quintana Roo, Mexico. We express our condolences to all those affected. We are working with local authorities to determine if there were U.S. citizens on board.
— Embajada EU en Mex (@USEmbassyMEX) December 19, 2017

The Royal Caribbean cruises — Celebrity Equinox and Serenade of the Seas, also expressed their sadness over Twitter.

The news from Costa Maya about a bus accident involving #CelebrityEquinox & #SerenadeoftheSeas guests is heartbreaking. Our hearts go out to all those involved. We are doing all we can to care for our guests, including assisting with medical care and transportation.
— Royal Caribbean Group (@NewsfromRCgroup) December 19, 2017

Our 27 guests were on a bus tour to the Chacchoben Ruins. We are working with the local authorities to learn more about the accident. We are doing all we can to help our guests.
— Royal Caribbean Group (@NewsfromRCgroup) December 19, 2017

According to CNN, the driver fled and eight Americans, two Swedes, one Canadian, and one Mexican are among the dead.