Bus and ute crash into Balmoral house, leaving woman critically injured

newy.com.au – An investigation is underway after a bus and a ute crashed before slamming into a house at Balmoral in the Lake Macquarie area early on Friday.

Emergency services were called to the intersection of Clydebank and Oakwood roads shortly before 6am on 17 April 2026 and found two people trapped in the wreckage.

A woman who was a passenger in the ute was freed by Fire and Rescue NSW before being taken to John Hunter Hospital with multiple injuries. She is reported to be in a critical condition. The 72-year-old bus driver was also released by Fire and Rescue NSW and taken to the same hospital with a suspected leg injury. He is reported to be in a stable condition.

The 43-year-old man driving the ute, along with his wife and eight-year-old son, were also taken to John Hunter Hospital for assessment as a precaution.

Two people inside the house at the time were not injured, but the home sustained significant structural damage.