The matter has been handed to the Illawarra crash investigation team, said Detective Inspector Matt Woods.

Authorities won’t venture a cause at this stage, but say mechanical examination of the bus is part of the process, which could take several weeks.

Inspector Woods told the Post one of the 30 Australian Defence Force Acadaemy (ADFA) cadets and mid-shipmen remained in a critical condition in hospital with possible severe head injuries.

The bus, which was travelling in a convoy of four, rolled when it lost control on a right hand bend of Sandy Point Rd as it was approaching the Miller Rd intersection.

Emergency services, including helicopters, were stretched to deal with all the injuries.

A Defence spokesman said as of Monday afternoon 11 remained in hospital and 19 had been discharged from hospital or military health centres.

On Sunday, one was being treated for very serious injuries and three for serious injuries.

“Defence continues to provide support and assistance to those involved in the accident, the broader ADFA cadet body, and to families of those who were seriously injured,” a spokesman said.

While the cause is undetermined, locals believe the road’s alignment was a contributing factor.

In a letter to the editor, Windellama man Allan Chapman wrote the sharp bend had always been a “black spot”.

“The road is narrow and badly aligned and since the road marking put double lines on that bend it has made it even more dangerous than it was before,” Mr Chapman said.

“The road is busier now that Oallen Ford bridge has been built with more large vehicles and caravans travelling to and from Canberra.”

Mr Chapman believed that whereas before line marking motorists with a clear view of oncoming traffic would cut the corner, now their near side wheels tended to run off the road and lose control.

“The road should be realigned or widened to avoid any more unfortunate accidents,” Mr Chapman wrote.

Fellow Windellama resident Marianne Ronayne said the bend, which has a 55km/h speed limit, had “been a real bone of contention forever.”

She recalled a quarry truck had also overturned on the bend several years ago and a motorcyclist had crashed at the same spot.

Mrs Ronanyne said at one stage a sign was painted on the road at the corner stating: ‘To be rectified asap’.

She was not aware who put it there, but it was removed before any anything was done.

“I say to people, if the sign says 55km/h, do it,” Mrs Ronayne said. 

“It has been a noted trouble spot for many years and I hope it can be rectified.”