EXCLUSIVE
A quick-thinking driver has been hailed as a hero for saving lives after being caught up in a horrific crash between a Greyhound bus and a car towing a caravan.
Three women were killed and 27 passengers injured after the bus they were traveling in allegedly veered to the opposite side of the Bruce Highway in Gumlu. in the north Queenslandat approximately 11 a.m. on Sunday.
The bus, which was travelling between Brisbane and Townsville with 33 people on board, collided with a caravan being towed by a 4×4 vehicle. The occupants of the vehicle, an elderly couple, miraculously escaped unharmed.
Witnesses have praised the elderly driver for moving his vehicle out of the path of the oncoming bus, an action they believe saved the lives of other drivers.
“He was a hero for his actions,” Janice Beavis said.
‘(They, the elderly couple) were behaving confidently. The bus collided with the van, the driver (of the 4×4) was trying to escape.
‘He saved himself, his wife, mother and three girls who were traveling behind him.’
The crash claimed the lives of Emma ‘Alli’ Sailor, a 56-year-old Townsville woman, and two German women aged between 20 and 30.
Pictured: The crumpled remains of a camper van were embedded in the front of the Greyhound bus after the crash.
Four people remain in hospital, including two men, aged 23 and 24, who are fighting for their lives and two men, aged 27 and 51, who are in stable condition.
The new details come as a survivor of the crash told the Courier Mail that the bus was running late and leaving Rockhampton at 2am instead of its scheduled departure at 12.45am.
Police are investigating whether fatigue played a role in the deadly collision.
Officer in charge of the Mackay Whitsunday Forensic Accident Unit, Sergeant Michael Hollett, said initial police investigations indicated the bus had swerved into the opposite lane.
He said the incident unfolded “quickly” and the 4×4 driver “did what he could” but was unable to avoid the accident.
Greyhound Australia chief executive Dan Smith said the company was “heartbroken” that three people lost their lives and several others were injured in the collision.
“This is a tragic incident and our deepest condolences go out to those involved, their family and friends,” he said.
‘We are working closely with the authorities to assist them in their investigation and understand the course of events that have led to this accident. We are also providing support to our team members affected by this tragedy.
‘We will provide further updates as more information becomes available and we ask that you respect the privacy of those involved at this extremely difficult time.’
The three deceased women and 27 injured passengers were on board the bus, while those inside the 4×4 were unharmed.
Investigators believe the Greyhound bus allegedly swerved toward a car towing a camper.
Queensland Police Superintendent Graeme Paine said investigators would interview more witnesses as they worked to determine the cause of the crash.
‘We have collected a significant amount of evidence from the scene. As we process that evidence and interview more witnesses, we anticipate having a clearer picture of exactly how it happened,” he told Sunrise on Monday morning.
‘I also want to acknowledge the role members of the public at the scene played in helping and treating some of the injured people.
‘It was a very significant and very contentious incident.
‘In any incident like this, the initial response is very chaotic and very complex. “Being in a situation like this is incredibly challenging.”
Shocking images of what happened show the cabin of the caravan embedded in the front of the bus, which had been pushed onto nearby train tracks.
The speed limit on the Bruce Highway where the accident occurred was 100 km/h.
The highway has since reopened.
The Bruce Highway stretches over 1,670km from Brisbane to Cairns and is an important transport corridor for freight, local communities and other motorists.
For years, the highway has been plagued by safety, congestion, flooding and funding problems and has claimed hundreds of lives.
Between 2020 and 2023, the Bruce Highway claimed the lives of 134 people. Between the beginning of this year and April, nine people have died.
Three people have died, two are fighting for their lives and dozens more have been injured following a horrific crash in North Queensland.
The horrific accident caused major delays on the Bruce Highway, which was closed in both directions.