Erskine Park bus crash: Driver critical after school bus carrying 40 students crashes into tree in Western Sydney’s Erskine Park

A school bus driver remains in a critical condition following a major crash involving dozens of students in Sydney’s western suburbs. The crash happened on Erskine Park Road in Erskine Park shortly after 1pm on Thursday, triggering a massive emergency response involving police, paramedics and Fire and Rescue crews. According to officials, the bus was carrying about 40 young students when it suddenly veered off the road. The vehicle first hit a roadside pole and then crashed into a tree. The impact caused serious damage and the driver was briefly trapped in the wreckage before being rescued by emergency responders.

A NSW Ambulance spokesperson confirmed the driver, believed to be in his 50s, was treated at the scene and later transported to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition, ABC News reported. Authorities launched an extensive investigation to determine what caused the crash, with investigations focusing on possible mechanical failures, road conditions or whether the driver had a medical emergency before the incident. However, the exact cause has not yet been determined.

Emergency services worked quickly to evacuate all students from the bus. Fire and Rescue NSW said paramedics assessed everyone at the scene. 8 slightly injured students were taken to different hospitals for treatment. Among them, one student was reported to have a suspected fracture, ABC News reported.
According to the release, NSW Police said the students involved were between the ages of 16 and 18. While most suffered minor injuries, the remaining students and a teacher on board were said to be shaken but not physically harmed.

Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash are ongoing, with NSW Police, NSW Ambulance and the Department of Education continuing to respond to the scene.