What was supposed to be a normal getaway for 21 passengers turned into a grim nightmare. Eight passengers have been injured after a fatal crash in Central Australia that claimed a 69 year old man’s life.

An investigation of what caused the incident, which took place at around 3:30 pm on Larapinta Drive near Hermannsburg, is ongoing.


“The tour bus, carrying 21 passengers from interstate, was travelling inbound east of Hermannsburg when it left the roadway and rolled several times before coming to a stop on the side of the road,” the authorities revealed in a statement.

In addition, Detective Senior Sergeant Michael Schumacher said that it did not appear that any other vehicles were involved in the accident.


"The major crash team have been out there all night and certainly we are still working on the scene this morning," he said.

"It takes a while to analyse the evidence that they've got, they've still got a number of enquiries to do."

A 69 year old man died at the scene and the eight injured passengers were rushed to Alice Springs Hospital for further treatment.

Police added that the driver along with the remaining passengers suffered from lacerations and bruising.


Authorities suspected that the bus was returning back to Alice Springs after a day tour when the horrific crash happened.

“The bus containing passengers was returning back to Alice Springs where for some reason the driver has lost control," Senior Sergeant Andrew Heath said.

Senior Sergeant Heath also added that medical staff from Hermannsburg clinic dashed to the scene (as did St John Ambulance NT and the NT Fire and Rescue Service) in an effort to treat the injured passengers before they were transported to the hospital.


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