A WOMAN has been airlifted to an Adelaide hospital after she had to be cut free from her vehicle following a serious crash between a car and a CityBus in Mount Gambier yesterday morning.
Emergency services were called to the corner of Queens Avenue and Clezy Crescent at around 11.15am after reports of a crash between a car and a bus, which left the sole occupant of the car unconscious.
Mount Gambier Police Sergeant Matt Bryant said it appeared the woman, aged in her 50s, failed to give way to the bus at the intersection, causing it to crash into her vehicle.
Following the impact with the bus, the car then crashed into a fence on the adjacent block.
Paramedics attended the scene and the woman was transferred to Mount Gambier Hospital before being airlifted to Adelaide with non-life threatening injures.
The bus driver was also transferred to hospital for observation.
There were around 10 people travelling on the bus at the time of the crash, however no injuries were sustained.
Mount Gambier man Michael Shaw was a passenger on the bus and believed the woman made an error of judgement.
“I think they just thought they had a bit more time and then they pulled out in front of the bus,” Mr Shaw said.
“Because of the size of the bus and the fact we were going downhill, there was no chance of it being able to stop in time.”
Mr Shaw said the sound of the impact was a shock to the passengers on the bus.
“It was just a really loud bang and then the sound of glass smashing everywhere,” he said.
“I went up to the front and the bus driver was fine, but the other car was smoking.”
He said passengers began calling the emergency services immediately.
“The car took the brunt of the impact and everyone was worried about it catching on fire,” Mr Shaw said.
“People were trying to get the woman out of the car, but the doors would not open and then not long after the authorities arrived.”
Members of the public watched on as Metropolitan Fire Service crews and State Emergency Service volunteers worked to free the woman for around 45 minutes.
Police will continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
