'Like a bomb going off': rock thrown through bus window

The Kennedy’s Bus and Coach service was completing its Nowra to Culburra/Orient Point run, travelling north on Penguin Head Road towards Orient Point at about 6.10pm when a rock thrown at the bus struck a left side window.

Bus driver George Clarke described the horrifying moment the window shattered, showering glass into the bus, likening it to a bomb going off.

“There was a loud pop, the rock came through the window, the wind came in and the window imploded,” he said.

“Thankfully nobody was hurt.

“Luckily, a passenger who was sitting in the seat just in front of the damaged window,  had hopped off two stops earlier.

“I saw nothing, just heard the result.

“In 10 years of driving buses I have never had anything like this happen.”

Kennedy’s operation manager David Tagg said he can’t understand what would drive people to throw a rock at any vehicle, let alone a bus.

“On average this run has 12 passengers but the bus could have been full, carrying 55 people. Thankfully no-one was injured,” he said.

“It could have been their mum or dad on the bus and they could have killed them.”

Mr Tagg said it is the third time one of the company’s buses had been hit by a rock but the first time in the local area.

“The other two incidents were in Campbelltown and Wollongong and I would have thought after what happened to Nicole Timbs (nee Miller) when she was struck by a rock thrown at a car at Kiama, people, especially locals, would know better,” he said.

“This could have been far worse – as it is we have a bus that will be off the road for three days and cost around $900 to replace the damaged window.”

The incident was reported to police who are making inquiries, with Shoalhaven Local Area Command Duty Officer, Inspector Steve Johnson saying the penalty for such an offence is five years imprisonment.

Anyone with any information can contact Nowra Police on 4421 9699 or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.