A man has died and eight people have been taken to hospital following a collision between a bus and a car on a NSW highway.
Police say officers were patrolling the Mitchell Hwy near Dubbo about 9.15am on Saturday when they attempted to stop a Mazda sedan.
When the car did not stop, a the siren and lights were turned on and police began chasing the Mazda, but soon called the pursuit off because of safety concerns.
Newsletters: Breaking news as it happens. Subscribe now 
Not long afterwards, the Mazda collided with a bus on the Mitchell Hwy, about 1km east of the highway’s intersection with Eulomogo Rd.
The driver of the car, a man believed to be aged 32, died at the scene.
He is yet to be formally identified.
Multiple ambulances were deployed to the scene, and paramedics treated 26 people aged from ten years-old to 80-years-old who were on the bus.
Eight people were taken to Dubbo Base Hospital in a stable condition.
The driver of the bus has been taken to Dubbo Hospital to undergo mandatory testing.
Seth, a passenger on the bus, said he was unsure exactly what happened.
“I got no idea (what happened). We went from this side of the road to that side,” he said.
“The (bus) driver did say the other car was swerving, so she couldn’t do much.”
He said most of the bus passengers suffered minor injuries.
“Scratches, someone did something to their knee,” Seth said.
The Crash Investigation Unit is at the site of the crash, police said.
“A critical incident team from Chifley Police District will now investigate all circumstances surrounding the crash.”
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Both directions of the Mitchell Hwy are closed at Eulomogo Rd.
Delays are expected.
Several traffic diversions are in place for both light and heavy vehicles.
More information can be found on the Live Traffic NSW website.
