An 87-year-old Beaufort woman died in hospital on Friday morning following the bus crash which also claimed the life of another elderly Victorian woman and hospitalised more than dozen other women. 

Carmel Mitchell, 71, died at the scene of the crash near Avoca, which occurred last Saturday after the driver of a bus carrying a group of bowls players lost control of the vehicle.

Another three women were airlifted to the Alfred and Royal Melbourne hospitals in critical condition following the crash while 13 were taken to Bendigo and Ballarat hospitals with injuries.

A fourth woman was transferred from Ballarat hospital to the Royal Melbourne Hospital when her condition deteriorated. 

 Of the three other women at the Alfred and Royal Melbourne hospitals, two remain in hospital in stable condition and one has been discharged. 

The bus was returning to Ballarat from Mildura, where the passengers, from various clubs, had been competing in the Dot Jenkinson Ladies Pairs competition at clubs around Mildura.

Police said the bus was travelling south along the Sunraysia Highway about 3.10pm on Saturday. The driver lost control of the vehicle which left the highway and rolled down an embankment.