Man 'devastated' after wife dies in bus crash
The victim of the tragic Victoria bus crash has been identified as a much loved grandmother-of-seven and top bowls player.
Carmel Mitchell, 71, was travelling on the bus with 27 other people from her lawn bowls club on Saturday when the bus suddenly left the highway and rolled into an embankment near Avoca.
A number of passengers were taken to hospital with a range of injuries and Ms Mitchell tragically died at the scene.
Her husband, Graeme, is said to be "devastated" at the loss of his wife.
“He is struggling immensely, he’s probably lost the single most important thing in his life, apart from his children,” he said.
The grandmother was one of 13 children and had three children of her own.
Major Collisions Detective Acting Sen-Sgt Mark Amos said he believes the loss of the popular community member would be felt across Ballarat.
“This is having a very profound effect on an enormous level,” he said.
The passengers were travelling home from a bowls tournament in Mildura when the crash happened.
Three passengers were taken by air to Melbourne hospitals with injuries ranging from serious through to critical and stable, Sgt Amos said.
One woman was taken to hospital in the Bendigo area and 13 other passengers were taken to hospitals in Ballarat with an assortment of injuries, police said.
Ten other people had no or minor injuries and were taken to a relief centre nearby.
"I'd like to acknowledge the amount of work Ambulance Victoria members did as well as other volunteers that attended the scene," Sgt Amos said.
"A large vehicle, off road, down an embankment, with significant injuries and a fatality is a confronting scene but their efforts no doubt prevented further death."
President of Mt Xavier Bowling Club Gerard Dooley described Mrs Mitchell as a "tireless worker at our club and a very good bowler".
"As a club we will do whatever we can to support our injured ladies, their families and friends," he said.
Police are asking anyone with information on the bus or the crash to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
"The prevalence of dash cameras is significant and we'd be thankful for anyone with footage to come forward," Sgt Amos said.
The driver suffered minor injuries and was discharged on Sunday morning, police said.
"We will be looking at any form of impairment, drug or alcohol related [in investigations]," Sgt Amos said.
"We'll attempt to determine if any fatigue was involved, the mechanical condition and speed of the bus but what part each of those things has played, we don't know."
Police say early investigations show seatbelts were in use at the time of the accident but it is unclear how many were being used and who was using them.
In Victoria, it's the law to wear a seatbelt if a vehicle is fitted with one.
