Police have praised “heroic” passersby who stopped to help after a shocking bus crash in Melbourne’s west, in which a truck driver has been charged.
One child remains in intensive care and several have suffered complete or partial amputations after being severely injured in Tuesday’s crash in Eynesbury.
Ten children aged five to 11 sustained traumatic or serious injuries.
Police confirmed the 49-year-old Balliang East truck driver had been charged with four counts of dangerous driving cause serious injury.
He was due to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court via video link on Wednesday afternoon.
Victoria Police Superintendent Michael Cruse said police were looking at inattention as part of their investigation.
He said it appeared the bus carrying 45 students from Exford Primary School on their way home had been struck from behind by the truck, which caused the bus to flip onto its side.
Superintendent Cruse praised the bus driver who helped some of the children out of the bus even though he was also injured.
He said it was a “horrific scene” where traumatised children were trapped and bleeding, and diesel was leaking from the bus.
“Then we had passersby who have heroically stopped immediately and assisted in assisting the children who could be removed from the bus,” he said.
“It was chaotic. It would have been very confronting for those passers-by. I think a special mention to those people,” he said.
“Some of the teachers went down to the scene and assisted in triaging the children before they went to hospital.”
“It is a difficult environment to work in. The intersection is surrounded by paddocks.
“We had to set up just temporary triage areas.”
Exford Primary School principal Lisa Campo said a passerby alerted staff to the horror unfolding nearby on Tuesday afternoon.
“We were about to start a staff meeting and I said I had to go and they all followed me down … I honestly thought I would just be there accompanying distressed kids and they had been in a minor collision,” she said in her first public comments on the accident.
“I didn’t ever expect to see that and I hope I never see that again.
“It was such a confronting scene for our families to arrive to see what
they saw. As it is for our staff,”
Ms Campo said student support services were on site at the school throughout Wednesday.
“Myself and the assistant principal and our staff wrapped our arms around the kids. I know that we’re not supposed to hug kids but that is they needed,” she said.
“We did joke that we would have a school-wide nap at 10 o’clock – ring the bell and everybody have a rest. We’re just taking it really easy today and surrounding our kids with and love and support.”
Specialist surgeons for injured children
Specialist doctors were called in to perform emergency surgeries at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital after seven children were admitted and two discharged.
The seven children remain in a serious condition, with four having surgery overnight, one in intensive care and another two going into theatre on Wednesday.
Royal Children’s Hospital chief executive Bernadette McDonald said one child has 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,” Ms McDonald said.
“Three patients are currently receiving spinal support and being monitored, carefully, in terms of spinal injuries.”
Multiple surgeons are in attendance 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.
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.
“We have some very traumatised families and children in our hospital at the moment,” she said.
“We’re working extremely hard to provide that trauma support and care that they will need not just now but in the coming weeks and months.”
Premier Daniel Andrews said he had been in contact with Ms Campo “just to make sure that she knew and understood that ‘whatever you ask for … the answer will be yes. We’re there for you’.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the crash was horrific.
“My heart goes out to them and to their families at what must be an extraordinarily difficult time,” he said.
Lifeline 131 114
Kids Helpline 1800 551 800 (for people aged five-25)
-with AAP
