A regional Victorian town is in mourning after an out-of-control truck ploughed into a kindergarten, leaving a staff member dead and a child in hospital, and police unable to understand how more did not lose their lives.

Police are still investigating the shocking incident on Monday afternoon, when a suspected medical episode is believed to have caused the 68-year-old driver of the water tanker to veer off the road and hit the community centre.

A 43-year-old kindergarten employee died at the scene, while a three-year-old boy was taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital.

The boy was being treated for an arm injury and ambulance officials said his injuries were not life threatening.

The truck driver was also transported to hospital, and police said he was assisting with inquiries. He works for local company McKenzie Water, which issued a statement on Monday saying it believed he had suffered a medical episode.

Emergency services attended a single vehicle collision in Riddells Creek this afternoon.

A 43-year-old Sunbury woman died at the scene.

A 3-year-old boy was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. pic.twitter.com/RtVHJ3kq5N

— Victoria Police (@VictoriaPolice) November 11, 2024

Detective Senior Sergeant Christian Von Tunk said initial investigations led police to believe the truck lost control on a bridge about 120 metres from the preschool on Main Road, Riddells Creek.

“It appears there’s some contact with that bridge – we can see some debris,” he said.

“There are also some signs on the left-hand side of the road that appear to have been struck as well.

“It’s a tragic set of circumstances which actually could have been a lot worse … this is one of those close calls and I don’t know how only one person has died today.”

Riddells Creek is about 60 kilometres north of Melbourne, in the southern foothills of the Macedon Ranges.

Macedon Ranges Shire Council CEO Bernie O’Sullivan said his organisation’s deepest condolences were with those affected.

“We are working closely with emergency agencies in response and to find out more information as it comes to hand,” he said.

“Our immediate priority is to support those affected and our broader communities – particularly those in Riddells Creek – however we practically can.”

The crash was less than two weeks after 11-year-old Jack Davey was killed and four other students injured after an SUV crashed through a fence at Auburn South Primary School in Melbourne’s east.

-with AAP