Bystanders came to the aid of a mother and her three young children after a Forestville crash involving a school bus and SUV left the woman trapped on Warringah Road.
Bystanders Respond After Forestville Crash
The collision occurred just after 4:00pm on Friday, 4 September, in the southbound lanes of Warringah Road past Maxwell Parade. A school bus carrying children and an SUV were involved.
After the collision, the SUV left the roadway and struck a tree on the driver’s side, leaving the 34-year-old driver trapped in her seat. Her three young children had been travelling in the rear seat in child restraints.
People from nearby homes went to the scene after hearing the impact. A teenage boy riding a bicycle was first to reach the vehicle and checked on the mother and children, while other bystanders helped remove the children and reassure the trapped woman.
Rescue Crews Free Mother
Six NSW Ambulance crews attended the scene. Paramedics assessed the three children, who were extremely distressed but showed no outward signs of injury. They were taken to Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, in a stable condition for further assessment.
Two schoolchildren from the bus were also assessed and did not require hospital treatment. The bus driver and a number of primary school-aged passengers were shaken but did not appear to be injured.
Firefighters from Forestville Station were joined by a specialist rescue crew from Narrabeen. Crews used thermal imaging equipment to monitor the SUV’s lithium-ion battery for signs of thermal runaway and prepared hose lines in case of fire.
Hydraulic rescue equipment was then used to cut away the passenger side of the SUV and free the woman onto a NSW Ambulance stretcher.
She reported pain in her right side and hip and was treated for possible internal and spinal injuries. She was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital shortly after 5:00pm in a serious but stable condition.
Warringah Road Reopens Gradually
The Forestville crash closed Warringah Road southbound, with traffic diverted via Maxwell Parade and Currie Road. Heavy traffic was reported in both directions while emergency services remained at the scene.
At 5:17pm, one southbound lane had reopened and the diversions had been lifted, although motorists were still being advised to allow extra travel time while the crash site was cleared.
The scene remained under police investigation until shortly before 9:00pm
Published 5-September-2026
