A father has been identified as one of two passengers killed in a minibus crash that injured nine others.
Siu Manu was killed at 7.45am on Tuesday after the bus struck a tree along the Calder Highway in Carwarp, near Mildura, in north-west Victoria.
Two people, including the male driver, were seriously injured and flown to Alfred Hospital and Mildura Base Public Hospital.
Three passengers were seriously injured, while the remaining four sustained minor injuries. The group was taken to Mildura Base Public Hospital.
Most passengers are agricultural workers from abroad.
Relatives took to social media to mourn the death of Mr Manu, who was from Samoa and worked as a farm laborer in Australia.
“We are blessed because of you, brother. Rest in peace,” one person wrote.
“I hope Father in Heaven will comfort you and the children,” another added.
Siu Manu (pictured) was killed when the bus struck a tree along the Calder Highway at Carwarp, near Mildura, in Victoria’s northwest, at 7.45am on Tuesday.
‘What a hardest pill to swallow [sic] to swallow, but sometimes we have to accept that God needs them most,” wrote a third.
His brother Tuuinaifo, who lives in Samoa, told the newspaper Herald Sun His older brother was a kind man who always helped his family.
“He is the one who supported and helped my mother all the time, and often paid our school bills,” he said.
Ambulance Victoria sent several crews, including an air ambulance helicopter, advanced life support and mobile intensive care paramedics, to the scene.
Shocking footage showed several workers climbing out of the wreckage of the bus.
One man was seen unconscious on the ground and a female worker was heard saying, “Talk to him, keep him warm.”
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said Daily Mail Australia’s investigation was ongoing and the cause of the crash was not yet known.
Daily Mail contacted Mildura Base Hospital for further comment.
Senior Highway Patrol officer Mark McDonald said Tuesday that police believe the minivan was trying to overtake a car before it crashed.
‘It was quite a serious accident. It is difficult to understand why this happened,” he said.
Victoria Police are still investigating the incident, which seriously injured two people and seriously injured several others (crash scene photo)
The driver of the car, along with other motorists who witnessed the accident, are helping police with their investigation.
Police are still trying to identify the passengers and efforts are being made to contact their families.
A portion of the highway between Kulkyn Way and Brownport Road remains closed.
Anyone with information or dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.