Dubbo bus crash: One man dead and up to 26 people injured as car earlier involved in police chase crashes into a bus and closes major highway
- Dubbo leaves one man dead in a crash on Mitchell Highway
One man has died and up to 26 people have been injured in a crash between a bus and a car in NSW Central West.
Emergency services responded to the scene on the Mitchell Highway east of Dubbo shortly after 9am on Saturday.
Police confirmed they had previously tried to stop a Mazda sedan but it took off, leading to a brief police chase. The pursuit was stopped, but shortly afterwards the car crashed into the bus, killing the 32-year-old driver.
Paramedics on scene treated 26 bus passengers aged between 10 and 80 years old, with the bus connected to NSW Trainlink.
Eight bus passengers have been taken to Dubbo Base Hospital.
A NSW Ambulance spokesperson said they were all in stable condition but were unsure of their injuries at this stage.
It is understood the gray Mazda sedan struck the bus head-on and then rolled over, landing on its roof on the tarmac, destroying the front half of the car.
Police said they activated lights and sirens in an attempt to stop the car.
‘When we were unable to stop as instructed, a pursuit commenced but was terminated due to safety concerns.’
Shortly afterwards the car struck a bus on the 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 in both directions for several hours and motorists are urged to avoid the area.
More to follow.
Traffic is blocked on either side of the crash site near Dubbo in the NSW Central West
The car was involved in a police chase that was called off shortly before the accident (stock)