‘Tragic, senseless’: Four overseas workers killed in minibus crash, children seriously injured

Four overseas workers, including a teenager, were killed after a minibus crashed head-on into a tree, leaving five more in hospital with serious injuries.

Emergency services were called to Chapel Road in Muckatah, about 10 kilometres south of Cobram, just before 5pm on Monday, after the minibus carrying nine people left the road. Four people died at the scene, with five others taken to hospital by road and air.

Among the dead are a 17-year-old boy, a 34-year-old man, a 51-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman.

The injured include three 16-year-old girls and an 18-year-old woman. The 39-year-old driver remains in hospital under police guard.

Police said all those involved lived in Greater Shepparton, but were from overseas and were working in the local area.

Authorities did not specify what work the occupants were undertaking in the area, but overseas workers are commonly employed in the region to work in the agriculture sector.

“The exact circumstances surrounding the crash are yet to be determined and investigations remain ongoing,” a police spokesperson said on Tuesday evening.

Speaking to the media at the scene on Monday evening, acting Superintendent Ashley Mason said the “tragic, senseless” crash would destroy the lives of the victims’ families ahead of the holiday period.

“We’ve got four lives lost, and as we know, we’re only 10 days away from Christmas ... at this point in time, we don’t know why or how this collision has occurred. That’s going to be a focal point of the investigation by our major collision investigation unit.”

“What we know is that’s four people who won’t see the 2025 Christmas, and it will have significant impacts to their loved ones, their friends, their relatives and many, many family lives will be destroyed as a result of this collision.”

In a social media statement, Cobram SES said it attended the “heartbreaking and confronting incident and we extend our deepest sympathies to the families, friends and loved ones of those who lost their lives”.

“We also hold in our thoughts those who were seriously injured and wish them strength and recovery.”

Moira Shire Council administrator Graeme Emonson said: “Thoughts are with those who died or were injured, their loved ones and everyone in the community who will be impacted by this terrible event.”

Emonson urged drivers to remain vigilant during a busy time on the region’s roads, with agricultural equipment being transported during harvest season and extra visitors travelling through the area during the holiday season.

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