A 26-year-old tourist who was 'living her dream' has died, and 19 others were injured, following a horrific bus crash in Queensland, Australia. Serena Andreatta, originally from Argentina but who had emigrated to Italy, was among 30 passengers on a FlixBus coach that rolled off the Bruce Highway near Gumlu last Thursday.
Details of the Crash
The coach was travelling from Cairns to Airlie Beach when the accident occurred. Serena was rushed to hospital but could not be saved despite medics' efforts. Nineteen other injured passengers, mostly foreign nationals and British backpackers, were triaged and taken to medical facilities in Bowen, Ayr, and Townsville.
Victim's Background
Serena arrived in Australia on April 17 after six months in Southeast Asia, where she visited Vietnam and Thailand's Koh Tao island and completed a Dive Master certification. Originally from Rosario in Argentina's Santa Fe province, she emigrated to Italy a few years ago, working as a waitress and hotel receptionist in Lombardy. She later built her own remote business advising Argentines on obtaining Italian citizenship. Passionate about travel, she had visited Europe, the US, India, and beyond.
She was travelling with her friend Valentina Accardi, who suffered serious injuries and was hospitalised in Townsville. Two other passengers had life-threatening injuries; the remainder were treated and mostly discharged.
Driver and Investigation
The 70-year-old driver from Mackay sustained minor injuries. FlixBus stated he was not speeding and tested negative for alcohol and drugs, though Queensland Police have not yet confirmed these details. State Premier David Crisafulli said: 'Someone in the prime of their life, on the trip of a lifetime, in another country, has lost their life. You've got young people in many cases living out their dream in a foreign country.'
Crisafulli and Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg highlighted long-standing safety concerns about the Bruce Highway, which has seen multiple serious crashes, including a fatal Greyhound incident in 2024. Crisafulli said the road 'is not up to scratch.' Queensland Police Superintendent Dean Cavanagh described the scene as complex, with many foreign passengers, and confirmed the forensic crash unit is investigating.
FlixBus expressed profound sadness and is assisting authorities and affected families. The incident remains under investigation.
