Man dies as tourists try to free stuck jeep

A man in his 40s died in a serious accident on the Gæsavatnsleið route north of Vatnajökull on Friday evening, mbl.is reports.

The accident happened as a group of 10 tourists in jeeps were trying to free a vehicle that had become stuck. Police said in a Facebook statement that the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Emergency responders were sent to the scene at the highest priority. Rescue teams took the man’s companions to Akureyri, where a Red Cross crisis team received them overnight and provided support.

The accident is under investigation by the North East Iceland Police investigation department. The Icelandic Transportation Accident Investigation Board has been notified. Police said they would not provide further information for now.