- Accident on Mitchell Highway, Dubbo leaves one man dead
A crash between a bus and a car in central western New South Wales has left one man dead and up to 26 people injured.
Emergency crews were called to the scene on the Mitchell Highway east of Dubbo shortly after 9am on Saturday.
Police confirmed they had previously attempted to stop a Mazda sedan, but it sped away, prompting a brief police chase. The chase was called off, but the car crashed into the bus shortly after, killing the 32-year-old driver.
Paramedics at the scene treated 26 bus passengers aged between 10 and 80, and it was understood the bus was connected to NSW Trainlink.
Eight passengers from the bus have been taken to Dubbo Base Hospital.
A NSW Ambulance spokesperson said they were all in a stable condition but were unsure of their injuries at this time.
It is understood the gray Mazda sedan hit the bus head-on and then overturned, ending up on its roof on the tarmac, with the front half of the car destroyed.
Police said they activated lights and sirens in an attempt to stop the vehicle.
“When he did not stop as instructed, a pursuit began before being terminated for safety reasons.”
Shortly afterwards, the car collided with a bus on Mitchell Highway, about a kilometer east of the intersection of Mitchell Highway and Eulomogo Road, Dubbo, police said.
A critical incident team from Chifley Police District will investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The investigation will be subject to an independent review and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
The Mitchell Highway is expected to be closed for several hours in both directions and motorists are urged to avoid the area.
More to follow.
Traffic is blocked on both sides of the crash site near Dubbo in central western New South Wales.
The car was involved in a police chase that was called off shortly before the accident (stock)