The teenager, who The Leader has chosen not to name at this time, was a learner driver. Police investigating the incident believe the well-known local’s car careered onto the wrong side of the highway, south of Uralla,across two lanes and into the path of a Greyhound bus bound for Brisbane at about 1.30am. The impact of the crash with the white Toyota sedan lifted the coach before it toppled over, sliding 200m up the road and slamming into a table drain, seriously injuring many on board.

There were eight passengers inside the bus, which was en-route from Sydney, and six managed to climb from the wreckage through the bus’s emergency exit.

The 50-year-old driver from Rosebury sustained a fractured collarbone and hand and lower-back injuries and had to be pulled from the bus by police first on the scene.

Two other passengers were also helped from the wreckage as ambulance paramedics scrambled to treat the injured before four passengers and the driver were rushed to Armidale Hospital.

A 68-year-old Queensland woman suffered chest and arm injuries, while a 71-year-old Armidale woman was treated for injuries to her shoulder and hand.

A 29-year-old Tamworth woman was also taken to hospital with cuts to her leg and suspected neck and back injuries.

A 31-year-old woman from Orient Point was released from hospital yesterday afternoon after being treated for a head injury and broken ribs.

Miraculously, four passengers escaped the carnage relatively unscathed and left the scene with family.

The Uralla community was reeling yesterday at the shock loss of one of its own – just 13 days shy of the one year anniversary of the death of promising superbike rider, Lachie Thomas. The 21-year-old was killed on the same highway, five kilometres north of Uralla when his ute left the road and rolled just before dawn.

“The community is no doubt devastated on yet another loss of a young person,” Uralla mayor Michael Pearce told The Leader.

“It’s just very sad.”

Saturday’s crash forced the closure of the highway until late in the afternoon with wreckage and debris strewn across the road.

Mr Pearce said the true extent of the tragedy “really hits home” when it happens in the country.

“It’s just a very tragic time and an unfortunate day for the poor father. “You know, what a way to celebrate Father’s Day,” he said yesterday.

“It’s dreadful, it’s very tragic.”

Investigators have begun trying to piece together how the tragedy unfolded and are looking at whether alcohol, speed or fatigue played a part, but they said yesterday it was still too early to tell.