Teen-age toll high in Aust, crash

Press, 20 September 1982, Page 1

Teen-age toll high in Aust, crash

NZPA Merredin. W. Australia The police are investigating a bus accident in Western Australia on Saturday night in which 10 people, including nine teen-age schoolboys, died. They were on their way home to the town of Merredin. about 250 km east of Perth, after the Australian Rules football grand final in Perth

The police in Merredin said the bus left the Great Eastern Highway about 17km west of the town, side-swiped a tree, and burst into flames about 11 p.m.

The nine boys and the driver of the bus were killed. Eight other teen-agers were dragged from the burning vehicle bv rescuers.

An ambulance spokesman said four of the injured were flown by air ambulance early yesterday to Perth where a spokesman for the Royal Perth Hospital said two had neck fractures. They, and a third boy with burns to 50 per cent of the body, arc listed in a serious condition. The fourth boy is in a stable condition with burns to 6 per cent of the body.

A’ spokesman at Merredin District Hospital said the other four injured boys are in a satisfactory condition in the hospital ’with minor burns and bruising. The boys, aged 15 and 16. from local farming families, boarded at Saint Michaelis Hostel in Merredin and attended Merredin Senior High School.