The driver of the truck involved in a horror school bus crash that left nine children with serious injuries is likely to be charged, Victoria Police say.
One child remains in intensive care and several have suffered complete or partial amputations after being injured in Tuesday’s crash west of Melbourne.
Nine children aged five to 11 sustained traumatic or serious injuries when the school bus carrying 45 kids collided with a truck and rolled on its side about 3.40pm on Tuesday.
A code brown, an emergency response for hospitals anticipating mass causalities, was declared after the accident and ran until 8pm.
Specialist doctors were called in to perform emergency surgeries at the Royal Children’s Hospital after seven children were admitted and two discharged.
Students from Exford Primary School were on their way home when a truck apparently hit the school bus from behind at the intersection of Exford and Murphys roads in Eynesbury, 44 kilometres west of the Melbourne CBD.
Police believe the bus was trying to turn right into Murphys Road before it was hit.
Children were trapped inside the bus before witnesses and emergency workers pulled them from the wreckage and took them to hospital.
On Wednesday, Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Lineham, from Victoria Police’s Major Collision Investigation Unit, said the 49-year-old truck driver was being questioned over the crash.
“We would anticipate he will be charged today,” he said.
Earlier, one mother spoke about the horror of learning her child had been involved.
“We raced down here, there was tears and emotion. [My daughter] was frightened, she has scratches, blood on her hands,” Nicole Kirk told Nine News.
“She was more concerned about her friends. She had her seatbelt on and she was fine. We are one of the lucky ones.”
The crash happened in a growth area, where housing developments have sprung up in recent years, straining local infrastructure.
On Wednesday, distressed locals said the particular stretch of road was a danger area that needed urgent attention.
Eynesbury local and paramedic Chelsea (who did not give her last name), told Melbourne’s 3AW that she had “been saying for years” there would be horrific crashes. Truck driver Joe told the radio station he had seem appalling behaviour by drivers in the area.
“I believe there has been fatalities on that road before,” Chelsea said.
“The infrastructure around there is becoming much more – there’s more housing estates … there’s a lot of residents in there and we’ve only got really one way out … so there is a lot of traffic.”
‘Traumatic injuries’
The warnings came as seven children remained in a serious condition in hospital.
Four had surgery overnight, one was in intensive care and two more will have surgey on Wednesday.
Royal Children’s Hospital chief executive Bernadette McDonald said one child had already had a complete limb amputation due to their injuries.
“The children have suffered multiple and traumatic injuries including partial and complete amputations of arms, multiple crushed limb injuries, severe lacerations to head and body, head injuries and glass shard injuries,” she said on Wednesday.
“Three patients are currently receiving spinal support and being monitored, carefully, in terms of spinal injuries.”
Multiple surgeons are involved in the children’s care, including the hospital’s own doctors and vascular and specialist microplastic surgeons from Royal Melbourne Hospital.
“You would understand with these sorts of injuries very small vessels need to be repaired and reattached,” Ms McDonald said.
The first child was in surgery from 4.30pm on Tuesday, an hour after the accident.
Many of the children will need to undergo multiple surgeries in the coming days and weeks and long-term rehabilitation therapy is likely.
Ms McDonald said the situation was very traumatic and she was surprised there were no fatalities.
“I would never say we’re lucky,” she said.
“This is traumatic for every single person involved, the families, we have some very traumatised families and children in our hospital at the moment and we’re working extremely hard to provide that trauma support and care that they will need not just now in the coming weeks and months as well.”
Counsellors were going to Exford Primary School on Wednesday to help students process the tragedy.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he had been in contact with the school’s principal Lisa Campo.
“The reason I called Lisa last night and again this morning was just to make sure that she knew and understood that ‘whatever you ask for … the answer will be yes. We’re there for you’,” he said.
“What an amazing school community, so tight, so close.
“To all of those staff and parents, the whole community, our thoughts are with you and our support is there for you as well.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also offered his condolences on Wednesday.
“My heart goes out to them and to their families at what must be an extraordinarily difficult time. And once again, as well, we owe our thanks to the medical professionals, to the ambulance personnel, to the paramedics, to the doctors, the nurses, all those who have looked after these fine young people, who are suffering as a result of this accident,” he said.
“Any accident is just horrific of this nature. The fact that it involves
school students just breaks your heart.”
Lifeline 131 114
Kids Helpline 1800 551 800 (for people aged five-25)
