NEED TO KNOW
- A groom and one of his groomsmen have been seriously injured after the taxi carrying him and his wedding party crashed on the way to the nuptials in Australia, according to reports
- New South Wales (NSW) Police Force confirmed in a statement obtained by PEOPLE that emergency services had been “called to Mount View Road, Mount View [in Hunter Valley] following reports of a single-vehicle crash” on the morning of Wednesday, July 30
- “At the scene, officers located a minibus that had rolled down an embankment,” police added
A groom in Australia has been seriously injured after a taxi carrying him and his groomsmen crashed and rolled down an embankment on the way to his wedding, according to reports.
On Wednesday, July 30, at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time, emergency services “were called to Mount View Road, Mount View [in Hunter Valley] following reports of a single-vehicle crash,” the New South Wales (NSW) Police Force said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.
“At the scene, officers located a minibus that had rolled down an embankment,” police added. “Two of the occupants are reportedly in serious but stable conditions.”
The groom is one of the two people seriously injured in the crash, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
Police said in the statement obtained by PEOPLE, “The other four occupants are being assessed for varying injuries not believed to be serious.”
“All occupants have been transported to hospital for further assessment and treatment,” it continued. “A crime scene has been established by officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District.”
According to 7News, citing authorities, the vehicle rolled up to seven times, finishing approximately 492 feet from the road.
“I can confirm the persons on the bus were in fact a groom’s party,” NSW Police district commander, Superintendent Steve Laksa, said, according to the outlet.
“The groom of the wedding was actually on the bus, a 56-year-old male person who suffered serious injuries,” he added, per 7News.
Another passenger in his 60s has head wounds, the publication reported, while the groom is believed to have suffered limb injuries in the crash.
The two who were in critical condition were taken to John Hunter Hospital by helicopter, while the other four were taken to the same location by ambulance, 7News stated.
Superintendent Laksa said that the driver of the minibus will undergo mandatory blood and alcohol testing, per the outlet.
NSW Ambulance Acting Superintendent, Jake Broughton-Rouse, said the “vehicle rolled approximately seven times,” per the ABC, adding that it took crews 45 minutes to cut the injured man with head injuries out of the taxi.
Superintendent Laksa said of the incident, “They hadn’t even got to the wedding yet. We’re very fortunate that the injuries weren’t fatal,” per the ABC.
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He added that weather conditions may have been a factor in the crash, the outlet noted.
“It’s drizzling, dirt road, unsealed road, could have all been factors in the collision,” he said, insisting that “there was no information or indication that alcohol was a factor” despite the mandatory testing.
NSW Health did not immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.
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