Dark mode is here!If you would like to change, tap into the appearance drop down below.Go to appearance
Personalise the news and
stay in the know
Emergency
Backstory
Newsletters
中文新闻
BERITA BAHASA INDONESIA
TOK PISIN
Find any issues using dark mode? Please let us know
Topic:Transport Accidents and Incidents
Police said the school bus rolled over while attempting to make a left hand turn on a bend on the Hamilton Highway near Stonehaven. (ABC News)
A girl on board a school bus that rolled just west of Geelong died at the scene of the crash, police have confirmed.
The bus was carrying 28 students from the Christian College Geelong, most of whom have been taken to hospital for treatment or medical observation.
An investigation into the accident is continuing.
A girl has been killed and at least nine other children injured in a school bus rollover near Geelong.
Twenty-eight primary and secondary school students from Christian College Geelong were on board the bus when the incident occurred at about 8:20am.
Police believe the vehicle was turning onto the Hamilton Highway near Stonehaven, about 80 kilometres west of Melbourne, when it rolled.
One girl died at the scene, police confirmed, while a boy was flown to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
The driver, a 76-year-old man from Hamlyn Heights, along with eight students were taken to hospital by ambulance with injuries.
A further 14 students were taken to hospital for observation.
Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Lyneham from Victoria Police's major crash investigation unit said the children had suffered "lot of abrasions and bruises" but did not detail the specifics of their injuries.
He said it had been a "confronting" incident for all those involved.
"It has been a big day for first responders already … but it is a challenging day for everyone, whether you are a parent, a member of the school community, or a member of the broader community around here," he told media in Stonehaven on Wednesday afternoon.
Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Lyneham (left) said the crash site had been a confronting scene. (ABC News)
"Presented with a crash of the sort of magnitude, it is a very confronting scene and I take my hat off to all the first responders that attended today and did their best.
"It's also a really confronting day for those kids going to school as they normally would do, and that's a challenging thing to deal with and it will be difficult for days to come."
Senior Sergeant Lyneham said the bus appeared to have failed to negotiate a left-hand bend, before hitting a rail and rolling over.
Christian College Geelong is a private school with seven campuses in Victoria.
Emergency services at the scene of the bus accident in Stonehaven. (ABC News: Jonathon Kendall)
Dr Mathilda Joubert, the school's executive principal, said it was a "profoundly distressing time" for the school community.
"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," she said in a statement.
Ambulance Victoria said eight paramedic units, including helicopters, intensive care, and advanced life support crews, had attended the scene on Wednesday morning.
It said it transported five patients to University Hospital Geelong and another five to the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne.
The driver has since been discharged and is assisting police with their enquiries.
Motorists have been advised the Hamilton Highway has been closed in both directions for a stretch between Inverleigh and Geelong.
Drivers should use the Geelong Ring Road, Princes Highway and Inverleigh-Winchelsea Road routes instead, the Department of Transport and Planning said.
Stonehaven is a semi-rural area about 10km west of Geelong, with a population of 80 people.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan extended her government's support for the local community.
"My thoughts are with the students, their families, the school and the entire Geelong community," Jacinta Allan wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"We stand ready to support you in every way we can.
"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."
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, who represents the federal electorate that takes in Stonehaven, paid his respects to the victim's family.
"My heart breaks hearing the devastating news of a school bus incident and death of a student in my hometown of Geelong," he said in statement posted to social media.
The Victorian opposition expressed its condolences for those involved in the accident.
"My thoughts are with the students, families, and school community at this heartbreaking time," Shadow Education Minister Jess Wilson said in a statement.
"The safety and wellbeing of students in educational settings is paramount."
An investigation is ongoing.
LIVE
Topic:Laws
Topic:Law, Crime and Justice
Topic:Environmental Impact
Topic:Federal Government
LIVE
Topic:Law, Crime and Justice
Topic:Police
Geelong
Stonehaven
Transport Accidents and Incidents
Topic:Police
Topic:Laws
Topic:Law, Crime and Justice
Topic:Environmental Impact
Topic:Federal Government
Topic:Allergies
Topic:Police
Topic:Explainer
Topic:Aged Care
We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.
This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.
AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)

source