Woman, 23, and man, 74, critical as 19 rushed to hospital after head-on between car and bus

A man who says he was in a head on collision between a car and a mini bus that left 19 in hospital says he has counted his blessings that he was able to walk away.

A 23-year-old woman and a 74-year-old man have been rushed to hospital in a critical condition after a mini bus carrying 20 people on the way home from a hot-air balloon ride was involved in a head-on crash with a car in Logan Sunday morning.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said 19 people were taken to various hospitals following the collision on Mundoolun Rd, Mundoolun, between Tamborine Mountain and Jimboomba, about 10.20am.

“A male was flown to Gold Coast University Hospital and a female was flown to Princess Alexandra Hospital in critical conditions,” she said.

A mini van has been involved in a serious crash with a car near Tamborine. Picture: Peter Wallis

“A further nine patients, one a female with a chest injury, were transported via road stable to Princess Alexandra Hospital and eight stable patients were transported to Logan Hospital. “Three patients were assessed at the scene however declined further transport.”

A QAS spokesman at the scene said there were initially 25 people involved in the wreck with one of the patients taken to Logan Hospital being a 13-year-old boy.

He said the bus was heading back from a hot-air balloon ride earlier that morning.

Greg Daven, regional manager of Hot Air Balloon Gold Coast, who confirmed it was not his company involved in the crash, said it was likely the bus passengers had taken a late morning balloon flight and were on their way home.

“They would have taken off after 8.30am this morning, hence why they were going through Mundoolun at that time of day,” he said.

Emergency crews on scene after a crash between a mini bus and a car. Picture: Peter Wallis

Bus passenger Hemi Mullen said he is grateful to have walked away.

“Counting my blessings to be walking out of this today… hope our bus driver Billy and the girl in the other car pulls through,” he wrote on Facebook.

“One of the most incredible experiences of my life to the most horrific in the space of 30 minutes.”

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said the two critical patients were the drivers of the vehicles and had each been trapped for more than an hour.

A car was significantly damaged in an incident with a mini van near Mt Tamborine. Picture: Peter Wallis

Just before midday, a Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokesman said firefighters had used hydraulic tools to extricate the two people with one person freed by 11.26am and the second one freed at 11.39am.

A police officer inspects the scene following a crash near Tamborine. Picture: Peter Wallis

A LifeFlight spokeswoman said the Toowoomba LifeFlight Surat Gas Aeromedical Service helicopter and the Queensland Government (QGAir) helicopters both landed close to the crash site after police cleared an area for a landing zone.

She said the driver of the car sustained “multiple traumatic injuries” and was flown to hospital under the care of the LifeFlight Critical Care Doctor and Flight Paramedic with the QGAir flying the man to hospital.

#Update - Two Rescue Helicopters have been tasked to the scene. High Acuity Response Unit and Critical Care Paramedics are on scene assisting with assessment and treatment of multiple patients at #Mundoolun

— Queensland Ambulance (@QldAmbulance) August 15, 2021

The QPS spokeswoman said there were 22 passengers on board the 22-seat bus.

“There is believed to be 22 passengers on board who self-extracted and are being assessed by QAS,” she said.

Diversions have been put in place but police are urging motorists to avoid the area as the road is expected to remain closed for several more hours.

The Courier Mail understands the crash happened close to the Mundoolun Estate on John Collins Drive, with locals saying there were about 20 emergency responders, including police, paramedics an Queensland Fire and Rescue firefighters on scene.

A mini van has been involved in a serious crash with a car near Tamborine. Picture: Peter Wallis

A mini van has been involved in a serious crash with a car near Tamborine. Picture: Peter Wallis

The Courier Mail understands the crash happened close to the Mundoolun Estate on John Collins Drive, with locals saying there were about 20 emergency responders, including police, paramedics an Queensland Fire and Rescue firefighters on scene.

The QFES spokesman said four fire units had been called to the crash.

Emergency services are still on the scene.

One chopper landed on the road near the intersection of Mundoolun Rd and John Collins Drive with another one landing in a nearby field.

A bus and a car have had a head on crash on Mundoolan Rd, Mundoolan just past Jimboomba woods. Picture: Teal Baunach/Facebook

A helicopter arrives on scene at a crash between a bus and a car. Picture: Peter Wallis