Second woman dies after bowls bus crash

A second woman has died following a bus crash in regional Victoria involving bowls tournament players last weekend.

The 87-year-old Beaufort woman died in hospital on Friday, after Ballarat Coachlines bus swerved off the Sunraysia Highway near Avoca last Saturday afternoon.

The bus was carrying 28 women and returning from a ladies pairs tournament in Mildura when it left the highway, hit a tree, and rolled down an embankment.

Carmel Mitchell, a 71-year-old grandmother to seven, died at the scene of the crash.

Mrs Mitchell was one of 13 children and was a mother of three. She is also survived by seven grandchildren.

“She was a very active member of the community,” Major Collisions Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Mark Amos said during a press conference last week.

He said that her husband is “struggling immensely” following Mrs Mitchell’s death.

“He’s probably lost the single most important thing in his life,” Det. Snr Sgt Amos said.

A fellow passenger described Mrs Mitchell as a “lovely mother hen” who organised annual lawn bowls tournaments.

Det. Snr Sgt Amos said all passengers and the driver were wearing seatbelts at the time of the incident.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000