MELBOURNE: A primary school group of children suffered traumatic, “life-changing” injuries after a horrific bus crash in Melbourne.
According to the BBC, the bus was carrying 45 primary students when it was hit by a truck from behind and rolled, police said on Tuesday.
Some 18 students – aged 5 to 11 – were rushed to hospital, several for emergency surgery and one of the injured was admitted to intensive care.
The bus driver has been charged with dangerous driving that led to the incident, causing serious injuries to several students.
Police said the bus had just left Exford School on the western fringes of Melbourne, Australia when the collision occurred.
Students were trapped inside the bus before bystanders including the truck driver and several of their teachers, who had rushed to the scene, helped emergency responders to free them from the wreckage.
Surgeons worked into the early morning hours to treat those children seriously hurt. Their injuries included crushed limbs – forcing amputations – head injuries, spinal injuries, and severe cuts.
The Royal Children’s Hospital said, seven children remain in severe condition, including one in intensive care.
Principal Lisa Campo said, “It is just distressing, knowing what our students have been through, and I can just imagine their fear.”
The bus driver was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening wounds.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was among those who thanked first responders and sent well-wishes to the families involved.
He said, “Any accident is just horrific; the fact that it involves school students just breaks your heart.”
Michael Cruse, the Superintendent, said the scene of the crash was extremely confronting for all who were there.
He said, “Some of the injuries are life-changing [and] this incident was avoidable.”
Australia has a below-average road safety record compared to other advanced economies. It ranks 20th of out of 36 OECD countries for road fatalities.
