Shock at Italian Cruise Port as Bus Hits Two Passengers — One Killed

A tragic accident in Livorno, Italy, has claimed the life of an American cruise passenger and left her husband in critical condition after the couple was struck by a bus inside the port area.

The Accident

The incident occurred on August 12, 2025, shortly after the pair returned from a city excursion and disembarked their shuttle bus. According to initial reports, the 83-year-old woman and her 84-year-old husband were hit by a bus maneuvering within the port. Investigators are still determining whether it was the same shuttle they had just exited.

Local media outlets identified the couple as Ellen Jan and Samuel Davis, though this has not yet been confirmed by officials. Witnesses said the bus driver had only moments earlier assisted the woman off the vehicle, even helping with her walker, before reversing the bus and losing sight of the couple in a blind spot.

Emergency services responded quickly, rushing both victims to hospital. Tragically, the woman passed away shortly after arrival, while her husband remains in critical condition under code red.

Queen Victoria Guests

The victims were passengers aboard Cunard’s Queen Victoria. Although the cruise line has not yet issued an official statement, guests onboard confirmed the tragic news. One passenger, speaking anonymously, said the ship’s captain addressed the incident in an announcement, expressing condolences to the couple’s family and friends.

The bus driver, described as highly experienced, was visibly distraught and told police he only realized something was wrong when he heard shouts and a noise from behind the vehicle. Police immediately sealed off the scene, interviewing witnesses and beginning a reconstruction of events.

Shock in Livorno

The Tuscan port of Livorno is a busy gateway for cruise passengers visiting Florence, Pisa, and the surrounding region. News of the accident has shaken both locals and cruise travelers, as authorities work to piece together exactly how such a tragedy could have occurred in a controlled port environment.

Bus Accidents Are Rare but Not Unprecedented

While tragic bus accidents involving cruise passengers are rare, they have occurred in recent years.

• June 2025, Ketchikan, Alaska: A sightseeing bus carrying 46 cruise passengers collided with an SUV, sending the bus into a ditch. Three people were hospitalized.
• September 2024, Skagway, Alaska: A tour bus overturned after the driver suffered a medical emergency, leaving 12 passengers injured.
• March 2025, Barcelona, Spain: A collision near the Sagrada Familia involving a tour bus of cruise visitors and another vehicle injured 53 people, several critically.

Despite these high-profile cases, the overwhelming majority of shuttle and excursion transfers are completed safely each year, transporting thousands of cruise passengers without incident.

Ongoing Investigation

Authorities in Livorno continue to investigate the circumstances of the accident, focusing on the bus’s movements, visibility, and safety protocols.

The findings are expected to influence future port safety measures and may prompt cruise lines and transport operators to review procedures for passenger disembarkation.