A man is dead after the school bus he was driving hit two camels near Rockhampton in central Queensland early on Monday.
The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) was called to the incident on Emu Park Road and Thompson Point Road at Nankin about 5:15am and took the critically injured driver to hospital where he died.
He was the only occupant of the bus.
Police closed the road in both directions, urging motorists to avoid the area.
Camel racer and breeder John Richardson said police notified him of the incident involving his animals.
Mr Richardson confirmed two of his camels had been killed.
He said he was distressed for the family of the driver and the animals.
"I'm just devastated," he said.
"It's just shocking."
Mr Richardson said he had since walked his fence line and discovered a gate off its hinges.
"I've never had a gate come off like that," he said.
"It's not like they're chasing feed. I've just bought round bales and I've got more round bales arrived this morning.
"I couldn't work (it) out … they don't try to get out (normally)," he said.
Capricornia Police District Detective Inspector Luke Peachey said the man appeared to be on his way to pick up school children.
"A traffic accident has occurred and a bus driver has lost his life and has crashed a school bus into two camels," Detective Inspector Peachey said.
"Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of that bus driver.
"We're not here to blame anyone. It's very early into the investigation."
Detective Inspector Peachey said forensic crash investigators were at the scene and asked that anyone with relevant dash cam footage contact Rockhampton Police.
