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Three people have died and four others are fighting for life after a "tragic" crash involving a bus and caravan on a major Queensland highway.
Police said 33 people were on board the Greyhound coach when it collided with four-wheel drive towing a caravan near the Wilson Creek Rest Area on the Bruce Highway at Gumlu, south of Townsville.
Images from the scene show a red bus stopped across train tracks with a caravan embedded in the front after the high speed crash on the state's busiest road.
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Superintendent Graeme Paine from Queensland Police said three people killed in the crash just after 11am were female, but he was unable to confirm their ages.
Queensland Ambulance said four people were taken to hospital in a critical condition.
Dozens were treated at the scene, with multiple people taken to Ayr and Townsville Hospitals, while one person was flown to Townsville Hospital.
Residents have been asked to "reconsider" their need to attend those hospitals in a Facebook post from Townsville Hospital and Health Service, with all staff called into work.
"A crash like this is very, very confronting," Paine said.
"The first responders and the community members on scene at the time have done a very significant job in trying to help those who are injured and safeguard the scene."
Police are investigating the cause of the crash.
"We haven't determined any factors that have contributed to the crash at this stage, but certainly a crash of this nature involving this many people is a very significant and very tragic incident for us" Paine said.
The Bruce Highway remains closed in both directions due to significant delays, with motorists urged to avoid the area, while the crash has also had affected the rail line.
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