A female driver was lucky to walk away unscathed when a school bus – just moments before it was due to pick up its first child – lost control on the treacherous Bringagee Road and rolled.

This is the latest in a string of near-misses along the gravel stretch, which is a vital link between Griffith, Carrathool and Hay.

In October, a Hay man was left fighting for his life after his ute rolled, while in 2006 a mother and her child had to flee the burning wreckage of their car after it crashed and burst into flames.

Carrathool resident Meg Merrylees, whose 12-year-old son catches the same bus to school every day, said the road was so dangerous that it scared her and her husband, David. “It’s really important that our children are safe on their way to school and that road at the moment isn’t safe enough,” Mrs Merrylees said.

“It’s always been bad but now it’s scaring us.”

Mrs Merrylees said the Griffith City Council and the State and Federal governments had a duty of care to find the money to seal the road before there was a fatality.

“Our bus drivers are reliable, trustworthy and safe drivers, but the condition of the road is incredibly bad,” she said.

“This incident proves that it’s very difficult even for experienced drivers along that road.”

In the wake of the crash, long-time campaigner Lydia Dal Broi has launched a petition which will circulate among the community in the coming days.

Mrs Dal Broi said that after lobbying council unsuccessfully for years to upgrade the road, her attention would now be broadened to include the state and federal governments.

“Now more than ever I am determined to see this road fixed,” she said. “It is only a matter of time before someone is killed and I’m not going to stand by and let that happen.”

Mayor Mike Neville said he shared the concern and frustration of the residents but council simply did not have the $1.5 million needed to tar the 12km of gravel road.

“This road continues to claim victims. I mean, two months ago we had a man who is now paralysed … but the issue is where do we take the money from?” Cr Neville said.

“Do we take it from local community groups? Do we take it from other road users?

“Do we take it from the CBD?

“That’s the decision we will have to anguish over unless we can attract substantial – and I mean substantial if not total – funding from another source.”