Al-anwar Newspaper English news in Australia
Four children and three adults were hospitalised after a bus veered off the road and crashed into a ditch during a school trip to NSW’s alpine region.
Authorities said the bus – which was carrying 36 children and five adults – lost control on Kosciusko Rd near Guthega Rd between Perisher and Jindabyne just before 5.30pm on Monday.
Paramedics took four children and three adults to hospital. They were suffering from a range of injuries including broken collarbones and broken legs.
Nobody had any life threatening injuries.
The group had been on a school excursion at the time of the crash.
“This would have been a really scary experience for everyone involved, especially the children, but everyone kept calm while we assessed and treated those who were injured.
“This was a major response for NSW Ambulance paramedics, with crews attending from across the region, including Perisher Valley, Jindabyne and Cooma stations.
“Everyone did an excellent job in challenging conditions, which included snow, low light and very low temperatures.”
Dramatic photos from the scene show emergency crews congregating to rescue the driver and passengers using a ladder slide and ‘hand over hand’ techniques to pull them up the steep incline.
Although no one suffered serious injuries, a triage system was established to prioritise those needing immediate treatment on-site or in hospital.
A replacement bus was arranged to quickly remove the remaining people who were subject to harsh conditions, including subzero temperatures and light snowfalls.
On Tuesday, teams worked to salvage the vehicle, which sat in a five-metre embankment.
Police will look into what happened.
Monaro MP Nichole Overall, whose electorate takes in the local area, thanked first responders on social media on Monday.
“Thank you to (first) responders currently assisting a multi-agency response to a coach that left road near Perisher,” she wrote.
