Three Boston University students were killed and five students injured on May 12 at 7:30 a.m. New Zealand Time in an accident where a vehicle swerved off the road, officials said. Car accidents like this are truly heartbreaking.

BU spokesman Colin Riley said one student was “seriously injured,” three students were killed and the remaining students were “less seriously injured” in the accident, citing information BU received through the U.S. Consulate in New Zealand.

The seriously injured student was airlifted to a hospital, Riley said.

The car with the students swerved off the road in Taupo, a city in New Zealand south of Auckland on the country’s North Island, Riley said. Several vehicles were traveling together, but only one vehicle was involved in the crash.

“[Families are] being notified by the U.S. Consulate and [the families] will know before [BU] make their names public,” Riley said.

Riley said students were likely in their third year of university and in their 20’s, but he could not confirm their ages. He also could not confirm the programs or schools in which the students were enrolled.

“[This is a] terrible tragedy, and it’s just heartbreaking for their families and for the students,” Riley said. “[We are] going to reach out to those students who were in New Zealand and offer counseling to those students on the east campus who were associated with them.”

Kevin Martin, the director for BU’s Auckland programs, said in an email that he could not offer any comment at this time.

The Turangi, New Zealand police, were unable to confirm further details.