Update 4.35pm
The bus involved in this morning's crash was owned by MIA Coaches and a spokeswoman has issued a statement to Australian Community Media.
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"A spokeswoman for MIA Coaches offered the company's sympathy and deepest regards for the families involved," she said.
Update 3.15pm
Two more people injured in this morning's bus crash have arrived on foot to the hospital in Harden.
NSW Ambulance initially transported 24 people to Harden hospital following the crash with another two airlifted to Canberra Hospital.
However, a Murrumbidgee Local Health Service spokeswoman confirmed "two patients walked into the hospital" later in the morning.
In total 28 people were injured in the crash.
Of those who were taken to Harden hospital, three have now been transferred to Young Hospital, these include:
- A 69 year old female in a serious but stable condition
- A 60-year old male in a serious but stable condition
- A 16-year-old female in a satisfactory and stable condition
The health service spokeswoman has updated the ages of those transported by helicopter to Canberra Hospital as a 64-year-old female and a seven-year-old male.
Update 2.45pm
"Everyone was screaming."
These were the words from a teenage girl who was a passenger on the bus which crashed near Harden on Friday morning.
She was among 28 people injured in the crash which occurred near the Demondrille Creek Bridge west of Harden at 8.30am.
The girl, who is aged approximately 15 years old, was taken to Murrumburrah-Harden Health Service with minor injuries following the crash before being discharged mid-afternoon.
She spoke to Australian Community Media outside the hospital and described the terrifying scenes on board the bus.
I was speechless when I saw the bus after we got out. Some of the kids just prayed.
- Bus passenger
"I was trying to sleep, but then I heard this sound like a crash and then I thought it would go back to normal but it didn't," she said.
"Then we stopped at the bottom of the road and I got up to check on my baby sister, she was fine but everyone was screaming.
"[I] thought it was a dream first of all, then I needed to get out because I couldn't breathe in there."
The teenager said a young couple who were seated behind her broke one of the bus windows to help her and some younger children get out.
"I was speechless when I saw the bus after we got out. Some of the kids just prayed," she said.
Update 12.02pm
A three-year-old child is among 26 people left injured following this morning's bus crash near Harden.
Of those injured, two people were airlifted from the scene and transported to Canberra Hospital, with the remaining 24 taken to Murrumburrah-Harden Health Service.
A spokeswoman for Murrumbidgee Local Health Service said of the injured taken to Murrumburrah-Harden, two have since been transported to Young Hospital.
"This was a 69-year-old female who was serious but in a stable condition and a 16-year-old female in a satisfactory and stable condition," she said.
"Nine [of those left at Murrumburrah-Harden] are currently under review and they're in a stable condition and have minor injuries.
"Thirteen have been cleared for discharge and transport is being arranged to get them home."
The youngest person injured in the crash was three, the oldest was 69 years old.
Update 10.22am
TWO people are expected to be airlifted to hospital after a bus with 30 people on board, including children, crashed near Harden on Friday morning.
Two rescue helicopters have joined the response, with a teenage boy and a woman likely to be flown out for treatment at larger hospital, a NSW Ambulance spokesperson confirmed.
"One patient, who is in a serious but stable condition, is a 14-year-old male with a number of different fractures," the spokesperson said.
"(The other) patient is a 65-year-old female who is in a critical condition."
Another 26 patients - adults and children aged between 10 and 14 - sustained minor injuries and will be taken to Harden hospital to be assessed by a doctor. Read more.
Update 9.53am
AROUND 30 people including children are believed to have been on board a bus when it crashed west of Harden on Friday morning.
A rescue helicopter has now landed at the crash scene.
The crash occurred around 8.30am and, while the road is open, traffic is affected in both directions.
Motorists are urged to allow extra travel time.
Earlier
EMERGENCY services are at the scene of a bus crash near Harden on Friday morning.
According to police, they believe the bus carrying a number of youths left the Burley Griffin Way about five kilometres west of Harden about 8.30am.
Police say there's a number of injuries and an ambulance helicopter is responding.
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NSW Ambulance paramedics, NSW Fire and Rescue and police are at the scene.
Police say the road is open, however motorists are urged to exercise caution.
More to come.
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