One student has died and 15 people were taken to hospital, some with serious injuries, after a school bus rolled in regional Victoria.
The bus, carrying 28 high school-age students from Christian College Geelong, was turning left on to the Hamilton Highway at Stonehaven north-west of Geelong when the incident occurred, at about 8.20am on Wednesday, Victoria police said.
A girl died at the scene and a boy was airlifted to the Royal Children’s hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. There were also “numerous students injured”, police said.
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The driver of the bus, a 76-year-old Hamlyn Heights man, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital by road ambulance. He was later discharged and was helping police with inquiries, police said.
Two specialist Air Ambulance Victoria helicopter crews, two mobile intensive care ambulance (MICA) paramedic crews and four advanced life support paramedic road crews attended the scene, along with Victoria police.
Paramedics transported 10 patients by road ambulance to University hospital Geelong. An additional 14 patients with minor injuries were assessed on site and transported by bus to the hospital, where three stayed, and the others returned to their families. Another patient presented at the hospital “by private means”, Ambulance Victoria’s statement said.
Police said the exact circumstances surrounding the collision were yet to be established and an investigation was ongoing.
Detective Snr Sergeant Paul Lineham said on Wednesday afternoon that the bus, from Christian College Geelong, was travelling south along Friend In Hand Road towards the Hamilton Highway, a “routine school pickup”, when it failed to negotiate a left-hand bend and hit the rail on the side of the road, causing the bus to roll over.
Some parents turned up to the scene of the crash, and were also looked after by first responders, Lineham said.
Dr Mathilda Joubert, the executive principal of Christian College Geelong, confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that the student who died was a pupil of the school.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm that a Christian College student has tragically lost their life in a school bus accident this morning. Several other students were also injured,” Joubert said.
“Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the families impacted. We are supporting them through this incredibly difficult time. This is a profoundly distressing situation for our entire school community. As the matter is now the subject of a Victoria police investigation, we are unable to provide any further information at this time.”
Motorists were advised on Wednesday morning that the Hamilton Highway was closed in both directions between Burnside Road and Friend In Hand Road, due to “a serious collision”, the Department of Transport said. “The closure is under the control of Victoria police.”
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The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, expressed her condolences to the school community in a post on X.
“My thoughts are with the students, their families, the school and the entire Geelong community. We stand ready to support you in every way we can,” the premier wrote.
“I also want to thank the first responders who have acted with professionalism and compassion in such difficult circumstances. This tragedy will weigh heavily on them too – especially in what is already a dark and difficult week. These moments touch us all. They remind us to hold our loved ones a little tighter.”
The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, member for Corio, had earlier confirmed reports of the death of a student in the crash in a post on X.
He said his “heart breaks hearing the devastating news of a school bus incident and death of a student in my home town of Geelong”.
“I am mindful the incident is still unfolding and further information is still coming to light but I do know this will affect so many in Geelong as we are a tight-knit community,” Marles said.
Jess Wilson, Victoria’s shadow minister for education, said the opposition expressed its “deepest condolences to the students and families impacted by the … unimaginable tragedy”.
