'Very significant' bus crash kills three, several more injured (2024)

At least three women are dead after a Greyhound bus carrying 33 people collided with a four-wheel drive towing a caravan on the Bruce Highway in north Queensland.

The crash occurred on a stretch of the Bruce Highway about 8 kilometres north of the town of Gumlu, between Bowen and Townsville, at around 11am on Sunday.

Four men remained in hospital in Townsville on Sunday night, two of them in a critical condition and two stable.

Queensland Police Superintendent Graeme Paine said the car was travelling south and the bus was driving north. All the fatalities and injured passengers were onboard the bus.

Describing the crash as "very significant", Superintendent Paine said one person had been airlifted from the scene.

He said it was not clear what caused the collision, which occurred in a 100kph zone.

"It's a crash involving a significant impact," he told reporters.

"We haven't determined any factors that have contributed to the crash at this stage, but certainly a crash of this nature involving this many people is a very significant and very tragic incident for us."

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A number of specialists are on scene collecting forensic evidence that will be assessed against any witness statements, Superintendent Paine said.

Anyone with information about the accident, such as dashcam footage, should contact police.

"A crash like this is very, very confronting," Superintendent Paine said.

"The first responders and the community members on scene at the time have done a very significant job in trying to help those who were injured and safeguard the scene, and try and assist those with medical attention."

'Very significant' bus crash kills three, several more injured (1)

Greyhound Australia CEO Dan Smith said staff at the company were "heartbroken" about the deaths of the three passengers aboard its service GX402, travelling from Brisbane to Townsville.

"This is a tragic incident and our deepest sympathies go out to those involved and their families and friends," Mr Smith said.

"We are working closely with authorities to assist them with their investigation in understanding the course of events that have led to this accident. We are also providing support to members of our team impacted by this tragedy.

"We will provide further updates as more information becomes available and ask that you respect the privacy of those involved at this extremely difficult time."

Additional staff mobilised to care for patients

Images from the scene show a badly damaged bus with a crushed front cabin on the highway, surrounded by police officers and ambulance workers.

Paramedics assessed 27 people at the scene — of those, seven had life-threatening injuries, according to Queensland Ambulance.

They were transferred to Townsville University Hospital after initial treatment at the Ayr Health Service, according to Townsville Health and Hospital Service acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Jason Yates.

On Sunday night, four people remained at the hospital, Dr Yates said.

Two men, aged 24 and 23, were in a critical condition, while a 27-year-old man and a 51-year-old man were in a stable condition.

'Very significant' bus crash kills three, several more injured (2)

The Townsville Hospital and Health Service's health incident management team has been meeting to assess the clinical needs of the injured bus patients.

'Very significant' bus crash kills three, several more injured (3)

"We have created capacity across our critical care units, including intensive care and emergency, as well as in theatres and inpatient units," said the service's chief medical officer, Dr Jason Yates.

Dr Yates said additional staff had been mobilised to care for the patients.

Members of the community have been asked to stay away from the hospital, unless their matter is serious, as staff treat the injured.

"Staff at both hospitals are currently busy managing patients from the crash," the Townsville Hospital and Health Service said in a social media post.

'Very significant' bus crash kills three, several more injured (4)

Bruce Highway closed in both directions

The Bruce Highway has been closed in both directions, while delays have also hit Queensland Rail services due to the proximity of the crash to rail lines.

A Queensland Rail spokeswoman said the North Coast line between Bobawaba and Gumlu would remain closed for emergency services to respond to the crash.

'Very significant' bus crash kills three, several more injured (5)

The northbound Spirit of Queensland is being held at Proserpine and the southbound Spirit of Queensland is being held at Townsville.

In a post on social media, Queensland Premier Steven Miles thanked community members and first responders who provided help, adding he was "shocked and saddened" by Sunday's events.

"Our thoughts are with their loved ones and all those impacted by this tragedy," he said.

"Queenslanders are sending you strength."

'Very significant' bus crash kills three, several more injured (6)

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'Very significant' bus crash kills three, several more injured (2024)

FAQs

What was the worst bus crash in history? ›

Chualar bus crash in 1963

This is the deadliest bus crash in modern American history. It occurred outside of Chualar in Salinas Valley, California. A makeshift bus was carrying 53 farm workers, who were brought in to harvest crops, when the driver drove across a train track—right in the path of an approaching train.

What happened to the bus driver in the Hunter Valley? ›

Brett Button was taken into custody after pleading guilty to a string of charges. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper. Button was driving guests from a wedding reception at Wandin Valley Estate back to Singleton on June 11 when the bus flipped onto its side at a roundabout at Greta.

What was the cause of the bus crash in Queensland? ›

A possible cause of the horror Greyhound crash in Queensland has emerged as police investigate the highway accident that killed three women. Police said an initial probe found the bus with 33 passengers travelled onto the wrong side of the road before colliding with a caravan being towed by a four-wheel drive.

What happened with the bus crash? ›

Twelve months after the Hunter Valley bus crash claimed the lives of 10 people, affected communities and first responders are still coming to terms with the tragedy. At 11.30pm on June 11 last year, a bus transporting 35 guests from a wedding venue crashed at a roundabout near Greta, killing 10 and injuring 25 people.

What is the deadliest crash in US history? ›

American Airlines flight 191, flight of a passenger airliner that crashed on May 25, 1979, near Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. A total of 273 people died: all 258 passengers and 13 crew members on the aircraft, as well as two individuals at the site of the crash.

What was the biggest crash in history? ›

Table
NameDateCountry
Wall Street Crash of 192924–29 Oct 1929USA
Recession of 1937–19381937USA
Kennedy Slide of 196228 May 1962USA
Brazilian Markets Crash of 1971Jul 1971Brazil
51 more rows

What happened to the bus driver in the Humboldt crash? ›

Glen Doerksen, the Broncos' bus driver, applied his brakes 24 metres before the intersection, but was unable to avoid the collision. The bus struck the truck's front trailer in a T-bone collision. The bus sustained massive damage, particularly at the front. The driver and 13 passengers were killed immediately.

What caused the Hunter Valley bus crash? ›

Button has been accused of taking the roundabout on Wine Country Drive at Greta too fast, allegedly telling some passengers to “fasten your belts” before the fatal crash in thick fog. Many on board were members of the Singleton Roosters Australian Rules Football club.

Were charges dropped in the Hunter Valley bus crash? ›

Which charges were dropped? In consideration of Mr Button pleading guilty to the 35 aforementioned charges, the DPP agreed to the withdrawal and dismissal of 35 other charges. These included 10 charges of manslaughter and 25 charges of alleged misconduct causing grievous bodily harm.

Where did the Kempsey bus crash happen? ›

Clybucca Flat

How many people died on Queensland roads? ›

During 1 January to 31 December 2023, there were 276 fatalities as a result of crashes within Queensland, which is 21 fatalities (or 7.1%) fewer than the previous year and 13 fatalities (or 4.9%) greater than the previous five year average. The updated 2023 Weekly road fatality report number is 1352e.

What happened in the Queensland helicopter crash? ›

A helicopter that crashed into a Far North Queensland hotel roof was stolen before being taken on an "unauthorised flight", the aviation company it belonged to has confirmed. The pilot, who has not yet been identified, was alone in the helicopter and died at the scene.

What was the biggest bus crash ever? ›

#1 Chualar bus crash 1963. The deadliest bus crash killed 32 farm workers just outside of Chualar in the Salinas Valley, California. The workers, called braceros, were Hispanic farm workers that harvested crops for farmers in the valley.

What was the worst school bus disaster? ›

The Yuba City bus disaster occurred on May 21, 1976, in Martinez, California. A chartered school bus transporting 52 passengers on an elevated offramp left the roadway, landing on its roof. Of the 52 passengers (not including the driver), 28 students and an adult adviser were killed in the crash.

What happened after the bus incident? ›

In December 1955, Rosa Parks' refusal as a Black woman to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, sparked a citywide bus boycott. That protest came to a successful conclusion a year later when the Supreme Court ruled that buses had to be integrated.

What was the worst vehicle accident in history? ›

Over 300 vehicles. A dense fog was once again the culprit for the largest car pileup in history, occurring at the Rodovia dos Imigrantes Highway in Sao Paulo, Brazil. With over 300 vehicles crashing into one another, the accident stretched along for over one mile, with many vehicles also catching fire.

What was the #1 worst plane crash? ›

KLM Flight 4805 and Pan Am Flight 1736, March 27, 1977

This crash remains the deadliest ever, claiming the lives of 583 people when two 747s collided on a foggy runway on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands.

What was the worst truck accident in history? ›

Interstate 10 Pile Up (California, 2002): The largest pile-up in US History, this 216-vehicle pile-up was caused when a semi-truck jumped the center barrier during rush hour.

What was the biggest school bus kidnapping? ›

In 1976, gunmen stormed a school bus carrying 26 children – ages 5 to 14 – and their bus driver in Chowchilla, California. As part of a ransom plot, they drove the hostages into a rock quarry and forced them into what could have become a mass grave: a moving van soon to be covered with 6 feet of dirt.

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