Tradies who were driving behind a school bus when it “flipped” and landed on its side have told of the unfolding horror as they rescued children.
Cameron Chalmers and Dean Eastway were returning home from work when they witnessed the crash on Tuesday afternoon at Eynesbury, west of Melbourne.
They were among a convoy of drivers who pulled over and freed terrified children from the wreckage, while comforting others who were pinned.
Police have hailed passersby and the injured bus driver as heroes.
On the ABC’s 7.30 program on Wednesday night, the pair spoke of ripping off the bus roof to get as many students out as they could in shocking scenes.
Some of the children were trapped under the bus by their arms. The men comforted them while awaiting help.
“We weren’t sure if there was one person in there or there was a heap of people. We just didn’t know,” Mr Chalmers told 7.30 host Sarah Ferguson.
“We just went around and we ripped the sunroofs off, then we found all these kids in the bus. It was – yeah, it was horrible.
“We just saw all the kids just screaming. Yeah, there was smoke and dust and … We took out all the kids that we could.
“I couldn’t even tell you how many. Probably 30, maybe? Yeah. And then once we got those out, then we found kids that were stuck, so we jumped in the bus and were just trying to help them.
“There was other people there trying to lift seats and then we realised that they were stuck under the bus with their arms and that.
“We just had to stay with them and keep with them.”
Children trapped
Mr Chalmers stayed with two young girls and a boy from Exford Primary School who were pinned by their arms.
“The little boy was laying on his back with his arm under the bus, and then the little girl that was obviously sitting in the seat next to him – she was laying on top of him with her arm pinned under the bus as well.
“I had those two, and had another little girl at the front with her arm under the bus, and she was sort of face down.
“We just kept talking to them and held their hands and just looked after them, and let the services do their work and hopefully get them out, which they did.”
Mr Eastway said the children were terrified and screaming.
“They were yelling out ‘I don’t want to be in a bus again’, ‘Where’s mum?’, all sorts of stuff. And there was all sorts of injuries. It was just terrible,” he said.
“There was a couple that were sort of going a little bit in and out. Just asked their name and just trying to keep them calm by just talking to them. Just reassuring them. ”
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Truck driver: Sun was ‘flickering’
The truck driver who has been charged told police the sun was flickering between trees just before the crash.
Police are investigating whether Jamie Gleeson, 49, from Balliang East was distracted before his truck collided with the back of the bus.
The truck driver of 18 years was granted bail on Wednesday afternoon after appearing via video link in Melbourne Magistrates Court.
He has been charged with four counts of dangerous driving cause serious injury.
The court heard Gleeson was driving clay on his way home from work at 70km/h when the crash occurred.
“Next thing I know the bus in front slowed,” he allegedly told police, according to a police summary read by Prosecutor Ben Kerlin.
“I tried to take evasive action but I couldn’t.”
Investigators are trying to piece together what caused the collision, with Victoria Police Superintendent Michael Cruse flagging inattention as one line of inquiry.
Eighteen children were taken to the Royal Children’s and Sunshine hospitals after the crash. They included seven who were seriously injured.
The Royal Children’s Hospital received nine patients aged five to 11. Two were discharged after treatment at the emergency department.
As of Wednesday, seven patients remained in the children’s hospital, including one in intensive care. All were in a stable condition.
The children sustained multiple and traumatic injuries ranging from partial to complete amputations, crushed limbs and severe lacerations to their heads and bodies.
Two were still to go into surgery as of Wednesday afternoon. Four of the more seriously injured will require further surgeries.
Several students were trapped inside the tipped-over bus before witnesses and emergency workers pulled them free, triaging them at the scene.
Td with four counts of dangerous driving causing serious injury.
Lifeline 131 114
Kids Helpline 1800 551 800 (for people aged five-25)
-with AAP
