BREAKING NEWS: Three Boston U. students killed, five injured in van crash in New Zealand

Three Boston University students studying abroad in New Zealand were killed and five other students from the school were injured outside the town of Taupo when a van they were riding in swerved off the road and crashed, officials said.

The accident occurred outside the town of Taupo on Friday afternoon in the Eastern standard time zone and around 7:30 a.m. New Zealand time on Saturday, according to a statement on BU’s school website. 

“This is a horrible tragedy,” said Boston University President Robert Brown. “Our prayers go out to the students and their families. We will do all we can to provide comfort and assistance to those who have been injured, and to the families and friends of the victims.”

According to the statement, BU officials were contacted by the US vice consul in Auckland, Joseph Bergen, who said one student was airlifted to a hospital in Taupo