29 injured in Greyhound bus crash near Marlborough
A passenger bus has crashed into a ditch near Marlborough, north of Rockhampton, about 1:30am (AEST) today. Investigations into the cause of the crash are continuing.
The Greyhound bus, with 29 people on board, was taking mainly overseas tourists from Airlie Beach south to Hervey Bay.
Six ambulances from Rockhampton attended and an SES crew from Marlborough assisted police at the scene.
Police said 11 people were taken to hospital by ambulance, with the remaining 18 passengers being picked up by a Greyhound National bus and taken to hospital.
Among those taken to hospital by ambulance was the bus driver who suffered a head injury.
Bus line Greyhound said it is shocked by the crash involving one of its coaches but is doing everything to help the passengers injured.
"The company's incident management control team immediately swung into action and we have people on the ground working with the authorities and helping passengers," chief executive Robert Thomas said in a statement.
"A second Greyhound bus and a number of ambulances transported all passengers to hospital."
The Bruce Highway was closed while emergency services recovered the severely damaged bus about 10 kilometre south of Marlborough. No other vehicles were involved.
Both Greyhound and the police stressed the crash highlights the importance of wearing seat belts.