NZ on Boston U Crash: We Tell Students Not to Drive

Three Boston University students studying in New Zealand were killed on Saturday when the minivan they were driving in careened off a road and crashed. Officials of the New Zealand university hosting the Boston visitors said they strongly discourage such students from driving because of their unfamiliarity with driving along the left side of the road; the school intends to strengthen those warnings in the future. "It's plainly riskier than other forms of travel," said the director of Auckland University's international office. "The students, of course, are anxious to get out and see as much of the country as possible."

It appears the driver of the car, one of the students, crashed while over-correcting after swerving. It's not clear why the driver swerved, and police are continuing to investigate. Those killed were among 26 students in three minivans who were on their way to trek the popular Tongariro Crossing, reports AP. The parents of the critically injured student, Meg Theriault of Boston, were at her bedside in New Zealand yesterday. "She is a fit and stubborn young woman and we know she is getting the best care," said a statement from her parents. (More Boston University stories.)