Mountain bus crash: One dead

One person was killed and at least 15 injured when a bus carrying 31 passengers rolled yesterday on the road to Tu¯roa skifield.

Police were called just after 2.30pm to the accident on Ohakune Mountain Rd and found the bus on its side. Several injured passengers were beside the vehicle, many with head injuries.

The most severely injured passenger was flown by helicopter to Waikato Hospital. Police said last night one person had died and a serious crash investigation was underway.

A St John Ambulance spokesperson said at least 15 other people had moderate injuries. Some had been knocked out in the crash and were treated at a triage centre set up in Ohakune.

One witness said: “People were being treated on the side of the road . . . One woman had clearly hurt her mouth and numerous people had blood coming from their heads.”

Last night a Waikato District Health Board spokeswoman said three people were at the hospital aged 20, 29 and 31.

The accident left hundreds of skiers stranded on the mountain for several hours while the road was closed.

Ruapehu Alpine Lifts said the bus was carrying passengers down from the Tu¯roa ski area.

One motorist said there were two cars behind the bus when it crashed.

Ruapehu Alpine Lifts chief executive Ross Copland said the bus overturned at the 9km mark along the road.

A bus operator, who did not want to be named, said one of his drivers was following the bus and saw it hit a bank and roll on to the road.

Visibility at the Tu¯ roa skifield was limited to between 25m and 50m.