Samoan father identified as victim of Carwarp minibus crash on Calder Hwy, Victoria

A migrant farmworker who was among two people killed in a minibus crash in Victoria was a “beloved” father-of-three.

Siu Manu died when the minibus he was travelling in crashed on the Calder Hwy in Carwarp, 30km south of Mildura, on Tuesday morning.

The bus is believed to have been overtaking another vehicle when the driver lost control and hit a tree, police said.

Two passengers died at the scene and nine people were injured.

Manu’s sister Tuuinaifo Tu’ua Manu told 7NEWS.com.au the family was devastated.

“Siu is very kind person and we don’t know how to forget him,” she said.

Manu was one of eight siblings, most of whom still live in Samoa.

The father-of-three was a Matai, or chief, in Samoa.

“He’s the first sibling we lost,” Tuuinaifo said.

“It’s so hard for us and especially his wife and three kids and our elderly mother, who still did not know until now that her beloved son passed away.

“Rest in peace, my dear brother.”

Manu lived in Samoa for most of the year and travelled to Australia for seasonal work, Tuuinaifo said.

This was his second year in Australia.

“He’s the one who has been taking care of our elderly mother before he leaves for seasonal work,” Tuuinaifo said.

Manu’s loved ones have launched a GoFundMe to support his grieving wife and children.

The male bus driver and one passenger were hospitalised with critical injuries, while three other passengers suffered serious injuries.

Another four passengers were taken to Mildura Base Hospital for observation.

Police told 7NEWS all passengers were employed at nearby farms, and many of them were from Samoa.

“It’s difficult to see why it’s happened,” Victoria Police Sergeant Mark McDonald said.

“Obviously, the weather’s fine, road conditions appear to be quite good, and there’s no indication there were any animals or anything like that involved.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact police as investigations continue.