Bruce Highway bus crash: Harrowing new details of horror bus crash emerge as the family of one of the three women killed break silence

Passengers who survived a horror bus crash that killed three women have revealed harrowing new details as loved ones of one victims broke their silence.

The Greyhound bus collided with a 4WD towing a caravan on the Bruce Highway near the Wilson Creek Rest Area, between Gumlu and Wangaratta in north Queensland, about 11am on Sunday.

Three women on the board the bus died after the bus allegedly veered onto the opposite side of the highway. 

One of the victims has since been identified as Townsville mother-of-four Emma 'Alli' Sailor, 56, who was returning home from Brisbane with her daughter, who escaped uninjured.

The two other women killed were aged in their 20s and 30s. 

The crash also injured 27 passengers, who were among 33 others on board that was heading to Townsville after it left Brisbane on Saturday. 

Grieving loved ones broke their silence on Monday night to pay tribute to Ms Sailor, who was remembered as a very religious person who was a lead member of the choir at her local church. 

'(She) was a wonderful person…she is going to be missed…(her death) doesn't feel real,' the family member told the Townsville Bulletin. 

The relative added that the family were still in shock but 'wanted answers.'

Meanwhile, one of the survivors on board the bus has opened up about the harrowing ordeal.

 'I just woke up and saw us hitting the caravan,' the woman told Nine News.

'The bus driver and a couple of civilians came in and they opened the door and helped get everyone out.' 

The passenger, who was seated just three rows from the front of the bus, took photos of the vehicle after it was left with extensive damage.

Parts of the front exterior of the vehicle had been ripped apart and a portion of the cabin was completely destroyed.  

The impact of the crash led the caravan to go straight through the front windscreen and into the cabin of the bus.     

 Several passengers suffered serious injuries before they were rushed to Ayr and Townsville University Hospitals after emergency services arrived at the scene.

One passenger was airlifted to hospital from the area. 

As of Monday night, two German male tourists, aged 23 and 24, are fighting for their lives while two men - aged 27 and 51 - are in stable conditions. 

Townsville University Hospital Chief Medical Officer Dr Jason Yates said on Monday that doctors treated seven patients at Ayr Hospital while three patients were treated at Townsville. 

He said three people who were taken to Townville Hospital were discharged later on Sunday. 

The patients include a 64-year-old man and two women aged 63 and 23. 

Dr Yates thanked the doctors, nurses and medical staff who worked tirelessly to help care for the injured. 

'We were expecting a mass casualty event yesterday [Sunday] and we needed to be ready to respond. We were able to cope with everything,' said. 

'We were able to provide timely care to the patients that needed it as part of this tragic event, but also our regular care.'

Rescue helicopters were also deployed to the scene to provide first responders with additional medical equipment. 

Queensland Police Superintendent Graeme Paine said police are yet to determine what may have caused the crash. 

'At this stage the crash is under investigation. We haven't determined any factors that may have contributed to the crash at this stage,' he said.   

Police are understood to be investigating whether fatigue may have contributed to the incident.