Woman dead, three-year-old injured after truck crashes into preschool at Riddells Creek

Police are investigating reports a kindergarten speech pathologist was killed while attempting an “act of bravery” as a truck ploughed into a preschool north of Melbourne on Monday afternoon.

The 43-year-old woman died at the scene and a three-year-old boy suffered non-life-threatening injuries to his upper body in the crash at the Macedon Ranges Montessori Preschool in Riddells Creek as playtime was wrapping up shortly before 2.30pm.

Emergency services at the school in Riddells Creek where a truck killed one person and seriously injured a child.Credit: Nine News

Locals have been campaigning to lower the speed limit on Main Road, where the preschool is located. One resident told The Age the thoroughfare had become an “endless road of traffic” and that vehicles “hurtled” through the town. The council endorsed a draft plan to lower it from 50km/h to 40km/h in June.

The incident comes two weeks after an 11-year-old boy was killed when an SUV crashed through a primary school in Hawthorn East and one year since five people were hit and killed by a BMW that failed to turn right outside a pub in Daylesford.

Major Collision Investigation Unit detective Christian Von Tunk said the tragic incident took place during play time and that it could have been considerably worse.

“We’ve lost a 43-year-old teacher’s aide, and we’ve had a child with a very near miss, and a group of children who are in very close proximity, plus some teachers who were fairly close as well,” he said at the scene on Monday evening.

“I dare say, there’ll be some kids getting squeezed very tightly tonight.”

Von Tunk said he had been told about acts of bravery and that the Sunbury woman may have pushed children out of the way of the truck.

“I’m hearing similar sort of acts of bravery on her behalf. We’ll certainly work through that.”

Ambulance Victoria said the three-year-old had an upper-body injury and was in a stable condition. He was transported to the Royal Children’s Hospital.

The 68-year-old truck driver is believed to have lost control of the water tanker, hitting a bridge and a car before crashing through the preschool, Von Tunk said.

“Before hitting the preschool, it appeared he collided with a nearby bridge and left debris at that scene before ploughing into signs and a white car,” the detective said.

“And we can see some tyre marks, which then veer across the road and into the school.”

When ambulances and police arrived at the scene, the truck driver was conscious, he said.

Police are investigating if the driver, who lives in the area, had suffered a medical episode, and blood and breath tests were taken from him.

The driver’s employer, McKenzie Water, said in a statement that the man was believed to have suffered a medical episode and that he remains in hospital.

“We are in shock and offer our heartfelt condolences to everyone involved,” Alan McKenzie, owner of McKenzie Water, said. “This is an incredibly distressing time, and our deepest sympathies go to those involved and their families and friends.

“Our experienced 68-year-old driver is understood to have suffered a medical episode and remains in hospital. We are doing what we can to support him and his family,” he said.

“We thank staff and emergency workers who responded. We are assisting authorities with their investigations.”

Riddells Creek resident John Ball told The Age locals had been campaigning for years to have the speed limit lowered on the road outside the preschool.

Ball said at its current speed limit of 50km/h, traffic “hurtled” through the small town when travelling between the Calder and Hume highways.

“The road has become increasingly busy in recent years,” he said in the aftermath of the crash.

“It’s become so busy, it was once a minor country road, and now it’s being compared to the Calder and Hume 30 years ago. There is an endless road of traffic.”

Lowering the speed limit would require approval from the state government as Main Road is a state-controlled arterial road. The state government did not respond to requests for comment by deadline on Monday evening.

“It has been chaos for the last hour and a half,” Ball said.

Local mother Leigh Lancaster was travelling in front of the truck when she heard a loud boom, followed by crashing sounds which she said sounded like a bomb exploding.

“I really can’t describe the sound [it was] like a bomb then ‘bang bang bang’. I just saw power lines coming down, didn’t see the truck at all,” she said.

“There is a Neighbourhood House next door and people were running everywhere.

“I was scared of a fire starting. Then I started hearing sirens. I don’t understand how it happened so fast. It’s horrific.”

Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas offered condolences to those impacted by the crash at the preschool and acknowledged the emergency services workers.

“This is a terrible incident and our thoughts are with the family of the victims and the broader Riddells Creek community,” Thomas said.

“We thank our first responders who are on scene investigating and helping those injured.”

Premier Jacinta Allan posted her condolences on X on Monday evening: “I know the close-knit community of Riddells Creek will be grieving tonight. We’re thinking of them, and everyone impacted by this terrible tragedy.”

An investigation into the incident is underway.Credit: Paul Rovere

The investigation is ongoing and police are appealing for anyone with information or dashcam footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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