A Transperth bus carrying passengers crashed into a large tree in the northern Perth suburb of Wanneroo, leaving eight people in hospital and prompting a major emergency response. Emergency services rushed to the scene after the morning crash, which witnesses described as a chaotic and frightening sight on one of the area's busy roads.
According to police, the bus was traveling west on Joondalup Drive when the driver lost control of the vehicle. The front of the bus then caved into a large tree on the other side of the road, bringing the journey to a sudden and violent stop and trapping those on board in the wreckage as help was called to the scene.
In total, eight people were taken to hospital following the crash. Among them, a 59-year-old woman and a 61-year-old man were critically injured, and remained in a serious condition. The 56-year-old male bus driver also received medical treatment, as paramedics worked to assess and stabilise those caught up in the incident.
The severity of the scene was clear to those who witnessed it. One person who was nearby said it was really horrific, describing a lot of terrified people at the site and noting that someone was in really critical condition. The sudden nature of the crash left bystanders scrambling to understand what had happened and to help where they could.
Tia Anderson, who was driving at the time, recounted seeing the bus suddenly veer into the median strip and across into the opposite lane. She said it took out a botanical garden sign on the Wanneroo road before crashing into the tree, an account that captured just how quickly the situation unfolded on the busy stretch of road.
As the emergency unfolded, members of the public stepped in to help. Another witness, a parent who was at the scene with a daughter, said a mother performed CPR while others did their best to assist the injured. Police later closed Joondalup Drive between Wanneroo and Burns Beach roads so officers could examine the scene and carry out their investigation.
Authorities are now working to determine what caused the bus to leave the road. Premier Roger Cook, who spoke a short time after the crash, called it a horrific incident, confirming that there had been injuries as a result of the accident. He said emergency services were on the ground and that police would obviously investigate the circumstances of the crash.