A man fleeing police has died after his car slammed into a school bus in western Sydney, injuring several children.
The silver sedan collided with the bus just after 8am on Friday when it crossed a major intersection in Londonderry "without slowing", Acting Assistant Commissioner Jeff Philippi told reporters.
The driver of the car died at the scene, with police still in the process of identifying him and notifying family members.
The uninjured bus driver was taken to hospital for mandatory testing, while two of the 10 students on the bus were taken to Nepean Hospital with minor injuries, including head wounds.
Mr Philippi said an unmarked police vehicle "had cause to follow" the car after a traffic violation was committed nearby just moments before the crash.
"Whether it's a pursuit or not will be a matter for the critical incident team," he said.
When asked whether speed was a factor, Mr Philippi said: "All I can say is that there's significant damage to the motor vehicles caused by the collision."
Footage of the scene broadcast by the Nine Network showed a green cloth draped across the front of the car at the side of the road, surrounded by large bits of wreckage from the impact.
It also showed the white bus, spun across the road, with long stretches of large, muddy skid marks nearby.
Affected roads remained closed six hours after the incident.
Mr Philippi said it was a "shocking incident" that would have frightened children onboard the bus and their parents.
He praised the bus driver for remaining composed and assisting the kids.
The sentiment was echoed by Sydney mother Peajay Cavanagh whose son, Emin, was on the bus along with other Richmond High students.
"He heard sirens, looked and seen the car, next thing the car hit the bus. He is only slightly injured complaining of a sore leg currently," Ms Cavanagh said on Friday afternoon.
"I cannot praise the driver of the bus for his control and manoeuvring of the bus ... without his quick reaction many more kids would be injured."
In a Facebook post, local man Jon Biddell said it was "the bus in front of my daughter's one".
"She said some moron flew through the stop sign and impaled the bus."
Specialist forensic officers will examine the scene and witnesses are being asked to come forward.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
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