One dead, one critical after school bus, 4WD crash

A man has died and another is fighting for life after a school bus carrying 26 students crashed with a 4WD near Gympie.

The crash scene. School children evacuated the bus after breaking windows as the door was too damaged to open. Picture: Scott Kovacevic/Gympie Times

A man has died and another is fighting for life after a full school bus and a 4WD crashed near Gympie.

The crash happened about 3.45pm at the intersection of the Gympie Kin Kin Pomona Road and Wilsons Pocket Road near Wolvi.

Paramedics said 29 people were involved in the crash, 26 of whom were students on the bus.

A 29-year-old Goomboorian man who was the passenger of the 4WD died on scene.

The driver, a 68-year-old Goomboorian man was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

Both men has been trapped in the vehicle for a number of hours following the crash as emergency services worked to free them.

The bus driver, a 53-year-old Goomeri woman was taken to hospital with minor injuries but no students required hospitalisation.

Paramedics assessed 26 people at the scene, with ambulance, police and firefighters called in. Picture: Scott Kovacevic/Gympie Times

The children from the bus were treated at the scene, with six of them suffering minor injuries. No students were taken to hospital.

The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating and anyone with information about the crash is urged to contact police on 131444.

Drivers were advised to avoid the area. Picture: Scott Kovacevic/Gympie Times

A witness travelling behind the bus at the time of the accident described the ‘heroic’ efforts of the bus driver to avoid the crash, saying she steered the bus to the side and literally drove it into an embankment, locking the wheel in her effort to swerve away from the impact.

“There’s nothing she could have done to avoid him,” the witness said.

School children escaped the bus once it came to a standstill by breaking the glass at the back of the vehicle, as the door and front of the bus were too damaged.

The road to Wilsons Pocket and Kin Kin Road was blocked and motorists advised to avoid the area.