Thirty defence force personnel have been injured in a bus rollover on Sandy Point Road, Windellama.
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The rollover occurred as the bus was rounding a right hand bend approaching the Miller Rd intersection. The bus, containing 50 passengers, was one of four Australian Defence Force buses travelling in convoy.
Police from The Hume Local Area Command, Fire & Rescue NSW, and Rural Fire Service (RFA) attended the scene as well as two helicopters and multiple ambulances.
One passenger, who was trapped for several hours, had to be extricated from the bus by Goulburn Police Rescue and NSW Fire and rescue shortly before midday.
Two passengers were initially assessed as having life-threatening injuries, four others with serious but not life-threatening injuries, with the remaining injuries regarded as less serious and ambulatory.
Eleven passengers who were at first assessed with non-serious injuries were later assessed as in no need of assistance and the final figure of injured passengers was revised to the twelve that needed to be taken to hospital.
That number included two passengers who were airlifted to Canberra Hospital, one passenger who was airlifted to Liverpool Hospital and nine passengers who were taken by road to hospital including four to Goulburn Base Hospital.
As at Sunday midday, three people were being treated for serious injuries and one person was being treated for very serious injuries.
The bus driver has been taken to hospital for mandatory blood and urine tests.
Officers from Traffic and Highway Patrol’s Crash Investigation Unit are examining the scene. Inquiries are continuing.
Statement by Department of Defence
The Defence Department has issued the following statement:
"The Department of Defence can confirm that a Defence bus carrying Australian Defence Force Academy offficer cadets and midhipmen was involved in an accident this morning on Sandy Point Road, south of Goulburn, in southern New South Wales.
A number of passengers have been injured. Emergency services are responding. Defence is in the process of notifying the families of members involved in the accident and will be providing support and assistance.
Defence will provide further information later in the day."