Three killed, four others fighting for life after bus in head-on collision
Three people have died and another four are fighting for their lives after a bus was involved in a head-on collision along the Bruce Highway in north Queensland.
Three people have died and another four are fighting for their lives after a bus was involved in a head-on collision along the Bruce Highway in north Queensland.
The northbound Greyhound bus, carrying 33 passengers, ploughed into a 4WD towing a caravan near Gumlu, south of Townsville, just after 11am on Sunday.
The caravan was left embedded in the front side of the bus after the accident.
Queensland Ambulance Service confirmed three bus passengers had died, with four people suffering life-threatening injuries.
More than 20 other people were treated at the scene or were transported to Ayr and Townsville hospitals with a range of injuries.
The driver of the bus, which was travelling to Townsville, is understood to have been treated with minor head injuries; the two occupants of the 4WD suffered minor injuries.
ome passengers on the bus were believed to have been trapped in the wreckage of the bus.
Queensland Police Service Mackay-Whitsunday Superintendent Graeme Paine said the three people who died were female bus passengers.
“There’s been a collision between those two vehicles – a very significant impact and very significant consequences,” he said.
“I can confirm the area where the crash occurred was a 100km zone, so it’s a crash involving a significant impact; 33 people were on board the bus at the time.
“Unfortunately three of those people are deceased.
“We’ve had a number of people who have been treated at the scene for injuries; some of those people have been taken to Ayr Hospital and Townsville Hospital; I can confirm that one person has been airlifted due to the significance of the inquiries.”
Sources told The Australian it was believed the bus veered into the oncoming 4WD, which was travelling south.
Superintendent Paine was asked whether the bus driver had fallen asleep at the wheel and whether fatigue was being investigated as a cause of the accident.
“It’s in the early stages of the investigation,” he said. “I am not going to speculate as to a cause (of the crash).
“There will be a number of investigative avenues pursued to try determine what happened.”
Superintendent Paine said the Bruce Highways had been closed in both directions.
“There are significant delays on the highway and if I can just advise anyone planning to use the highway to take that into consideration.
“If there are alternate routes, do that,” he said. “If you can delay your travel, please do that from an investigative point of view in relation to the traffic.”
The families of the three dead woman and of the seriously injured were gradually being contacted on Sunday.
A Queensland Ambulance spokesperson said a triage area had been set up at the scene because of the number of passengers with injuries.
A rescue helicopter spent most of Sunday afternoon ferrying the injured to hospital.
Townsville Health and Hospital Service said extra staff had been called in to treat the victims.
“We have created capacity across our critical care units, including intensive care and emergency, as well as in theatres and inpatient units,” Chief Medical Officer Jason Yates said.
“We’ve mobilised additional staff and are working with the QAS and RSQ to manage and care for the patients.”
Queensland Premier Steven Miles said the accident was a tragedy that would affect many people.
“My thoughts are with those involved in this morning’s bus crash at Gumlu, south of Townsville, especially the family and friends of those who have sadly died, and the critically injured,” he said.
“I’ve been told emergency services were met with a very confronting scene.”
Local state Burdekin MP Dale Last, a former police officer, said he understood it was a confronting scene at the crash site.
“My thoughts right now are with those involved in the incident, their families and the emergency services who are involved,” he said. “I know from personal experience that events like this have an impact on emergency services staff.
“I would ask the community to include them when they send their best wishes to those involved and their loved ones.”
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