Car driver charged over crash that killed 84-year-old minibus passenger

About 10.40pm on Saturday, December 16, emergency services were called to Fitzroy Avenue, Cowra, after reports a Kia Sorento and a Toyota HiAce Minibus had collided, causing the bus to overturn.

Officers from Chifley Police District attended, along with NSW Ambulance paramedics and found a passenger on the bus had been "ejected" and the 84-year-old man, died at the scene.

The Toyota driver, a 61-year-old woman, and four other passengers - two men aged 41 and 78 and two women, aged 55 and 60 - were injured.

Three were taken to Cowra Hospital and a fourth airlifted to Orange Base Hospital for further treatment

As part of inquiries, police spoke to the owner of the Kia, a 32-year-old man. He was taken to Cowra Hospital for mandatory testing before being released pending further investigations.

A crime scene was established and examined by specialist officers from the Crash Investigation Unit, who commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Following inquiries, the 32-year-old man was arrested at Cowra police station about 9am on December 17.

He was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death - drive manner dangerous, cause bodily harm by misconduct - in charge of motor vehicle, negligent driving (occasioning death) and two counts of knowingly making a false/misleading statement.

The Cowra man was refused bail to appear before Orange Local Court on Monday, December 18.