NELSPRUIT, South Africa (AP) — Three British nationals who were part of a school group touring South Africa were killed in a bus crash yesterday, police said.

Provincial police spokesman Capt Leonard Hlathi told The Associated Press the vehicle was carrying 22 people — including 18 British students and two British teachers — when it veered off the road yesterday near the town of Barberton, just outside the World Cup host city of Nelspruit in north east South Africa.

Capt Hlathi confirmed two British women and a British man were killed and 19 people were injured. It was unclear whether the three dead were students or teachers.

Police said a Zimbabwean driver and a South African tour guide were also on the bus when it overturned.

Nelspruit Medi-Clinic spokeswoman Robyn Baard said eight injured tourists were being ferried to the clinic and three people, two males and a female had already arrived.

“Two are serious but presently in a stable condition. We are expecting to receive more patients soon,” Baard said.

The British High Commission in Pretoria confirmed the incident, and said that a small number of victims have been seriously injured. It said it did not believe that the group was in the country in relation to the World Cup.

Capt Hlathi said a tourist safety doctor and a bus safety inspector from the provincial traffic department attended the crash and some of the injured were treated at the scene.