A serious Adelaide Metro bus crash in Port Adelaide has left a driver seriously injured and a female passenger requiring hospital treatment after the vehicle struck a concrete railway bridge support on Tuesday morning.
The crash happened shortly before 9am on August 25 on Commercial Road, near Baynes Place. The impact crushed the front of the bus and trapped the 37-year-old driver and a 28-year-old passenger by their lower limbs, prompting a complex emergency rescue.
Driver trapped for more than an hour
The driver, a Kensington Park man, was extensively trapped inside the damaged driver’s compartment. SA Ambulance Service Special Operations personnel treated him while firefighters worked to release him.
His treatment included blood transfusions at the scene before he was transported to the Royal Adelaide Hospital. SA Police said he was in a serious but stable condition.
The female passenger was also trapped by her lower limbs and took about 30 minutes to free. She was taken to hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening. About four other passengers were able to leave the bus without assistance.
19 firefighters involved in complex rescue
Nineteen Metropolitan Fire Service firefighters responded, including specialist technical rescue personnel.
Freeing the driver required crews to pull the bus backwards away from the concrete pylon. Firefighters then used hand and hydraulic tools to remove parts of the damaged front section, including the steering column that was restricting access to his trapped legs.
MFS commander Simon Kirkmoe described the driver’s removal as particularly complex and said the damage made it one of the more significant bus accidents crews had attended in recent times.
Major transport accidents can require lengthy specialist rescue operations when occupants become trapped. A recent Prince George plane crash and emergency landing also required a significant emergency response following a serious transport incident.
Outer Harbor train services disrupted
Because the bus hit a support beneath an active railway bridge, authorities also needed to determine whether the impact had affected the structure.
A structural engineer was called to inspect the bridge before normal train movements could resume. Fire authorities said there was no immediate expectation of a structural problem, but an engineering assessment was required as a safety precaution.
Adelaide Metro said Outer Harbor Line trains were unable to operate between Alberton and Outer Harbor following the crash. Trains continued between Adelaide Railway Station and Alberton, while limited substitute buses were arranged between Woodville and Outer Harbor. The Port Dock and Grange lines were not affected.
Passengers should check Adelaide Metro’s current service disruption information before travelling because arrangements may change as normal operations are restored.
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Commercial Road traffic affected
Traffic restrictions were introduced around the crash scene while emergency crews completed the rescue, police investigated and authorities prepared to clear the damaged bus.
The disruption shows how a collision involving critical infrastructure can affect road and rail networks simultaneously. Similar transport impacts can occur when bridges require safety restrictions, as seen during the recent Champlain Bridge closure and traffic detours.
What caused the Port Adelaide bus crash?
The cause has not been officially established. SA Police said its investigation into the crash was continuing.
Early reporting has included witness accounts about events immediately before the collision, but these should not be treated as a confirmed explanation. Police have not established why the bus struck the bridge support or confirmed whether another vehicle contributed to the crash.
There have been no confirmed fatalities. The driver remains the most seriously injured person reported from the incident, while the female passenger’s injuries were described as non-life-threatening. Motorists and public transport passengers travelling through Port Adelaide should continue checking official road and Adelaide Metro updates as the investigation and recovery work progress.
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