LATEST:
Ambulance Victoria has provided the following update:
“Two specialist Air Ambulance Victoria helicopter crews, three Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) paramedic crews and four Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedic road crews were dispatched to the scene.
Air Ambulance Victoria transported one patient to The Royal Children’s Hospital.
Paramedics have assessed and treated a number of patients on site and transported 10 by road ambulance to University Hospital Geelong.
An additional 14 patients with minor injuries have been assessed by Ambulance Victoria Field Emergency Management Officers and paramedics, and transported by bus to University Hospital Geelong. Three of these patients presented to University Hospital Geelong, and the remaining 11 were transported to Christian College to be reunited with family and carers.
We understand another patient presented to University Hospital Geelong by private means.
No details of the ages, genders, or conditions of the patients are available at this time.”
Barwon Health has confirmed a second patient has been transferred from Geelong to the Royal Children’s Hospital.
EARLIER:
Police have confirmed a girl has died in a school bus crash in Stonehaven.
Emergency services were called to the Hamilton Highway around 8.20am Wednesday to reports the bus had rolled.
Twenty-eight students were on board the bus at the time, ranging in age from primary school to high school.
Sadly, a girl died at the scene, while a boy was flown to hospital with serious by non-life threatening injuries.
The 76-year-old male bus driver and eight students were taken to hospital by road ambulance with various injuries, while another 11 were taken for observation.
Police have confirmed the bus driver has been released from hospital and is helping them with their enquiries.
Officers are asking anyone who may witnessed the crash, or who may have dash cam or information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000..
Premier Jacinta Allan has also responded to the crash, taking to social media to say her thoughts are the students, their families, the school and wider Geelong community.
“We stand ready to support you in every way we can,” she wrote.
“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.
These moments touch us all. They remind us to hold our loved ones a little tighter.”
EARLIER:
Responses have begun to roll in from across the Greater Geelong community following news of a Christian College school bus crash in Stonehaven.
It’s understood a female student has died, with a number of other children seriously injured after the bus rolled over at the Hamilton Highway and Friend-In-Hand Road intersection around 8.20am Wednesday.
The situation remains active with emergency services still on scene, with police saying they will provide an update as soon as possible.
The latest update from Ambulance Victoria, provided at 11.30am, is as follows:
“Two specialist Air Ambulance Victoria helicopter crews, two Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) paramedic crews and four Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedic road crews attended the scene.
Five patients have been transported to University Hospital Geelong and another five have been transported to Royal Children’s Hospital.”
Barwon Health has begun providing hourly updates, at 1pm saying there was no change to the status provided at 12pm, which reads:
“The total number of patients who are being treated at University Hospital Geelong includes 12 children and one adult. Of this cohort, two are in a serious condition, and the remainder are stable. One of the children in a serious condition is being transferred to RCH.
A group of students have arrived via bus for assessment by Emergency Department clinicians. It is too soon to comment on their condition.”
Meanwhile, local politicians have shared their reactions to the news.
In a post to X (formerly Twitter), Deputy PM and Member for Corio Richard Marles shared the following:
“My heart breaks hearing the devastating news of a school bus incident and death of a student in my hometown of Geelong.
My first thoughts are with the family, friends and the school at this time and those that are injured.
I am mindful the incident is still unfolding and further information is still coming to light but I do know this will affect so many in Geelong as we are a tight-knit community.”
Member for Western Victoria Bev McArthur has also posted to X:
“So worrying to hear reports of a bus crash involving school students, on the Hamilton Highway near Stonehaven. My thoughts are with all the children, families, staff and emergency responders at this difficult time.”
