2 Vanuatu crash victims remain in hospital

Details are slowing emerging of a head-on collision south of Cairns, Australia that claimed the lives of 3 Vanuatu seasonal workers and landed 2 others in hospital.

The men were travelling in a mini bus, heading south to pick fruit when their vehicle collided head on with an oncoming semi-trailer on Bruce Highway

Rita Kelly of Queensland Ambulance Service told 9 News, their officers “came across a very horrific scene.”

It was raining at the time of the incident and the roads were very wet.

Vanuatu media have identified the deceased as Ioan Malas, Bridly Kere and Veta Bong.

Two other passengers Charlie Seule and Etienne Malep suffered neck, back and leg injuries and are admitted at Innisfail Hospital.

Vanuatu Government’s Employment Service of the Labour Department is reported to be meeting with the agents responsible to arrange for their bodies to be repatriated back to Vanuatu in the coming days.