Woman dead, seven others injured after bus crashes with truck, rolls over on NSW highway

A woman died after a mini bus with elderly people on board rolled on a highway south of Sydney on Wednesday. The incident, on the Prices Highway at Yallah, occurred following a crash with a truck. Both the vehicles were travelling north.

The mini bus was carrying 11 passengers on board. Shortly after 12PM, the crash occurred, causing the bus to fall on its side.

The NSW Ambulance paramedics treated seven of the passengers on the scene. They were transported to the hospital. According to AAP (via 9News), a NSW Ambulance spokesman said three of the passengers were in critical condition. Two passengers and the drivers did not sustain any injuries.

The passengers were from an aged-care provider, Warrigal Care. The elderly, all of who were more than 70-years-old, were travelling to a park near Dapto for a barbeque picnic when the accident occurred.

Warrigal acting chief executive Leanne Taylor said it was the first incident in 25 years that the care provider has been organising day activities. “The group was headed just west of Dapto for a barbecue as part of our club or activities for friendship service we operate,” Taylor said. “The service allows people to socialise and we have people from around the broader community come to our centres to take part in them.”

She added that the organisation, which has several retirement villages and provides aged-care and respite services at 10 locations, was “shocked and saddened” by the tragic incident. “We will be providing support everyone in the incident and their families,” she added.

The wounded were treated for fractures, lacerations and other injuries. The drivers were taken to the hospital for mandatory drug and alcohol testing. The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated by officers from the Crash Investigation Unit. Motorists have been urged to use Windang Road and Shellharbour Road.