Liam McNally
Police have charged the driver of the truck that allegedly struck a school bus causing it to flip on its side near the corner of Exford Road and Murphys Road causing “life changing” injuries to children.
The 49 year-old male has been charged with four counts of dangerous driving causing serious injury, and police said “inattention” is something they are “actively looking at as a part of the investigation”.
Exford Primary School Principal Lisa Campo was about to begin a staff meeting on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 16 when she got the call from a community member that a bus that had left the school had had an accident.
Ms Campo said she was expecting a “fender bender”, instead they were confronted with the incident where a bus carrying up to 45 children had flipped on its side.
Children were trapped inside the bus before witnesses and emergency workers pulled them from the wreckage and took them to hospital.
Seven children between the ages of five and 11 were admitted to Royal Children’s Hospital with serious injuries including including partial and complete amputations of arms, multiple crush-limb injuries, severe lacerations to head and body, head injuries, glass shard injuries, and potential spinal injuries.
“I didn’t ever expect to see that and hope I never see that again,” said Ms Campo.
“It’s just distressing knowing what our kids have been through and I can only just imagine their fear, being confronted with that scene.”
Victoria Police Superintendent Michael Cruse commended the “heroic” acts of passers by and emergency services in assisting with the “horrific” incident, including the driver of the bus who helped free trapped children despite being injured himself.
“Undoubtedly their actions have potentially prevented further injuries… some of them are heroes,” he said.
“It’s unimaginable to think the children were in there classrooms and such a short time later so seriously injured so close to school”
“At this time it’s really important to remind the community about the messaging that we continue to provide around road safety. We want all road users to remain vigilant – concentrate, obey the speed limits, be really courteous to other road users and stay completely at attention at all times to make sure we don’t see any more incidents of this nature.”
A GoFundMe has been started to assist the students and families involved in the accident.
Details: www.gofundme.com/f/exford-families
