Grandma killed in horror crash pictured
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this story contains the name and image of a deceased Indigenous person.
The family of a beloved grandmother killed in a horror highway bus crash is being remembered for her loving presence.
Emergency services were called to the Bruce Highway near Gumlu, in Queensland’s Whitsundays region, just after 11am on Sunday following reports of a serious collision between two vehicles.
Three people were killed when the Greyhound bus they were travelling on collided with a caravan travelling in the opposite direction.
The bus was carrying 33 people when the impact of the crash forced it off the road, coming to a stop on nearby train tracks.
The 56-year-old Townsville woman who died in the crash has been pictured.
She was returning home from Brisbane with her daughter when they were involved the crash. Her daughter was uninjured.
The grandmother is being remembered as a devout Christian and “gentle soul”.
“It comes as a huge shock to our family. We’re still grieving,” her family told 7 News.
“We’re thankful to everyone for their wishes and condolences.”
She has been described as a “beautiful church woman” who was “very strong” and went out of her way to help those around her.
Her family said her husband of 19 years is “beside himself”.
“We will miss her presence and smile,” the family said.
The loving grandmother was killed alongside two German nationals in their 20s and 30s.
Two men, aged 23 and 24, remain in hospital in critical condition, while two other men, aged 27 and 51, are in a stable condition.
Mackay District Superintendent Graeme Paine said the incident was “very confronting” and “very complex”.
The Bruce Highway was closed until about midnight on Sunday, with the rural location of the crash making it difficult for emergency crews to reach the scene.
Superintendent Paine said the forensic crash unit is investigating the crash.
“Certainly a crash of this nature involving this many people is a very significant and very tragic incident for us,” he said.
“We have a number of specialists on scene that will work through the incident scene.
“They’ll forensically process the evidence and then we’ll look at that.”
Greyhound Australia CEO Dan Smith said the company will continue to assist the investigation into the crash.
“We are heartbroken that three passengers aboard Greyhound Australia service GX402 travelling from Brisbane to Townsville have died after a motor vehicle accident at Gumlu in North Queensland today,” Mr Smith said in a statement on Sunday night.
“This is a tragic incident and our deepest sympathies go out to those involved and their families and friends.
“We are working closely with authorities to assist them with their investigation in understanding the course of events that have led to this accident.
“We are also providing support to members of our team impacted by this tragedy.
“We will provide further updates as more information becomes available and ask that you respect the privacy of those involved at this extremely difficult time.”
