Gumlu, Queensland – A serious incident unfolded this afternoon on Queensland's Bruce Highway near Gumlu, a stretch between Townsville and Bowen, when a large passenger coach rolled. Emergency services were dispatched just before 4 PM, responding to reports of a significant number of injured passengers.
At least 29 individuals were being assessed at the scene. Several passengers sustained life-threatening injuries, with initial reports indicating two to three people were in critical condition and suffering severe head injuries. The exact number of injured and their conditions are still being confirmed as the immediate aftermath unfolds.
Emergency response efforts were substantial, involving multiple Queensland Ambulance Service crews, including 11 ambulances and two rescue helicopters. A Royal Flying Doctor Service plane was also reported to be at the location. Motorists were advised to avoid the area due to expected major delays. The cause of the rollover remains under investigation.
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Circumstances of the Incident
The coach, carrying a full complement of passengers, rolled off the highway in the Gumlu area. No other vehicles are believed to have been involved in this specific rollover incident. Reports indicate the event occurred around 4 PM today, May 14, 2026. Some stable patients were reported to have already left the scene by emergency personnel.
Previous Incidents on the Bruce Highway
This incident brings to mind a similar tragedy on the same highway. On July 1, 2024, a Greyhound coach carrying 33 passengers collided with a four-wheel drive towing a caravan near Gumlu. That crash resulted in three fatalities – women aged in their 20s, 30s, and 56 – and left two men in critical condition with severe injuries. The investigation into that incident suggested the bus may have veered into oncoming traffic.
The driver in the July 2024 incident, Peter Cafe, has since faced court proceedings, with testimony suggesting a potential "microsleep" prior to the collision. The legal proceedings are ongoing in the Townsville District Court.
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This region has unfortunately seen other significant bus accidents, including the Boondall bus crash in 1994, where a bus overturned, resulting in 12 deaths and 38 injuries.
