Kids injured in Melbourne bus crash face amputations, trauma
The school bus crashed near Eynesbury, west of Melbourne, about 3.40pm on Tuesday. Photo: 10 News First
One child remains in intensive care and several others are awaiting complete or partial amputations after being severely injured in a bus crash in Melbourne’s west.
At least 10 children aged 5-11 sustained traumatic injuries when the school bus carrying 45 kids collided with a truck and rolled onto its side at Eynesbury, west of Melbourne, about 3.40pm on Tuesday.
Specialist doctors have been called in to perform emergency surgeries at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital.
A code brown was declared after the accident and ran until about 8pm Tuesday.
Forty-five students from Exford Primary School were on their way home when a truck hit their school bus from behind.
The male bus driver sustained minor injuries and Victoria Police have spoken to the male driver of the truck.
Thirteen children were taken to hospital after the bus rolled in the accident at the intersection of Exford Road and Murphys Road at Eynesbury, Victoria Police said.
In an update on Wednesday, the Royal Children’s Hospital outlined the horrific injuries.
They include arm amputations, crushed bones and children with lacerations to their head and body.
Multiple surgeries will be performed in coming days and weeks, including by specialist plastic surgeons.
Hospital CEO Bernadette McDonald said it had been a traumatic experience for all involved.
“The children have suffered multiple and traumatic injuries, including partial and complete amputations of arms, multiple crushed limb injuries, severe lacerations to head and body, head injuries, glass shard injuries and three patients are currently receiving spinal support,” she said.
“Some of these patients will require returns to theatres and multiple surgeries in the coming days and coming weeks.”
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Two children were discharged late on Tuesday. Seven remain in the hospital in a serious condition.
“We have some very traumatised families and children in our hospital at the moment and we are working extremely hard to provide that trauma support and care that they will need,” Ms McDonald said.
“The parents are obviously traumatised. They had to wait until the early hours of the morning to be reunited with their children.”
Police initially said up to eight children were seriously injured in the crash and Ambulance Victoria reported more than 20 hospitalisations.
Ambulance Victoria later clarified that 14 people, including 13 children, were taken to hospital by ambulance with injuries.
Ten children were seriously injured.
The other three children and an adult were taken to hospital in a stable condition.
Paramedics assessed dozens more people at the scene, where they remained for more than three hours on Tuesday.
The Country Fire Authority earlier said about six children were trapped.
Major collision investigation unit detectives were sent to the scene.
Police have urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward.