Eynesbury school bus crash: Seat belt law review flagged after primary school children injured


Victoria’s premier has flagged his government could make changes to laws governing seat belts on busses in the wake of a horror crash which injured dozens of school students.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Premier Daniel Andrews said his government would “have a very close look” at existing laws.

“It’s really important that we establish what happened here and then learn from it,” he said.

“See whether there’s more that we can do … we owe that to everyone who’s been caught up in this.”

His comments came after a school bus containing 46 primary school-aged children and it’s driver rolled after being struck by a truck while turning at Eynesbury about 3.55pm on Tuesday.

Nine children were trapped in the wreckage, while eight suffered life-threatening injuries, eight had serious injuries and 30 were described as “walking wounded”.

Two children have since had limbs amputated.

As of Thursday, seven children remain in the Royal Children’s Hospital in a stable condition.

Mr Andrews praised first responders and community members assisting after the crash, which occurred less than a kilometre from Exford Primary School.

Road safety advocate Donald Gibb said Australian governments had been “asleep at the wheel” on this issue of seatbelts and road safety.

“I think the supervision, control and monitoring of children in buses is long overdue,” he told ABC Rural Radio.

No buses or coaches are required by law to have seatbelts in Victoria, unless there is a seat directly facing a front windscreen.

Free school buses in regional Victoria started being fitted with seatbelts from 2013, now installed in 83 per cent as of March 2023.

Bus drivers are exempt from laws requiring drivers enforce passengers wear seatbelts.

Truck driver Jamie Gleeson, 49, was charged with four counts of dangerous driving causing serious injury the following afternoon after speaking with police.

He faced court later the same day where further details about the horrific crash were revealed.

Prosecutor Ben Kerwin said Mr Gleeson had allegedly finished work an hour earlier after spending about 10 hours driving “five to six” loads of clay from Bulla to a worksite in the inner Melbourne suburb of Kensington.

He was on his way home driving his “usual route”, he said.

Mr Kerwin alleged there was no evidence of alcohol or drugs and Mr Gleeson told investigators he was driving about 70km per hour – 10km per hour below the posted speed limit.

The court heard the bus has slowed and was indicating right when it’s right rear panel was struck by the truck.

“Next thing I know the bus in front slowed,” The father of two allegedly told police.

“I tried to take evasive action but I couldn’t … the impact didn’t feel massive.”

In a statement, his employer L & J Cartage said the family-owned company was distressed by the crash and Mr Gleeson had been driving trucks for more than 20 years.

“Our hearts go out to everyone involved, especially the children and their families. We are deeply shocked and saddened at what has happened,” a spokesman said.

Mr Gleeson was released on bail and will return to court in October.

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