‘Absolute chaos’: Truck and bus collided on major highway at Blue Mountains

First responders described the scene as ‘absolute chaos’ when a bus collided with a truck west of Sydney, sparking a desperate rescue mission.

Emergency crews raced to the scene of a truck and bus crash west of Sydney which has been described as “absolute chaos”.

Two people were trapped inside the truck. The first of those, a man in his 20s, was freed and treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance before being taken to Nepean Hospital in a stable condition.

The second, also a man in his 20s, was “severely” trapped before finally being released. He was treated for leg, shoulder and wrist injuries and was flown to Westmead Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

The incident occurred at Lawson, in the Blue Mountains, about 7.30am on Wednesday.

Early reports suggested it was a school bus.

A man in his 20s was ‘severely’ trapped in the truck before finally being released. Picture: 9 News

A driver and a teenager were inside the bus at the time of the incident. Both escaped, with the teen being treated for a hand injury, a NSW Ambulance spokesman said.

The bus driver was also treated for minor injuries. Neither needed to go to hospital.

Aerial images show multiple emergency crews on the scene.

The crash has triggered lengthy delays on the Great Western Highway. All westbound lanes have since reopened.

NSW Ambulance Inspector Steven Lobley described the scene as “absolute chaos”.

UPDATE: All lanes have reopened in all directions on Great Western Hwy at Somers St & traffic's returning to normal after an earlier crash.

— Live Traffic NSW (@LiveTrafficNSW) July 28, 2021

“A bus and a truck sprawled across multiple lanes as well as a rescue helicopter, multiple NSW Ambulance and other emergency services vehicles there to help,” he said.

“It was an extraordinary team effort from our crews today, they treated these patients simultaneously in hazardous conditions.

“A big thanks to Fire Rescue NSW and Police Rescue for assistance in safely removing the men from the truck cabin.”

He said it was lucky more people weren’t injured.

Originally published as ‘Absolute chaos’: Truck and bus collided on major highway at Blue Mountains