Eight-year-old Harrison Grey in induced coma after Bees Creek bus crash

A Darwin mother waiting desperately by her eight-year-old son’s comatose body has asked all Territory families to have a frank talk with their kids. See how the community has rallied around Harry

Eight-year-old Harrison Grey was hit by a car after getting off the Bees Creek Primary School bus on Tuesday December 6.

A Darwin mum watches over her eight-year-old boy in hospital waiting desperately for any signs of recovery.

This is the reality for Paula Apostoles and Dean Grey, the parents of Harrison Grey who was hit by a car while going home from school.

Harrison remains in an induced coma 10 days after he was critically injured in a crash on Bees Creek Rd at 3pm on Tuesday December 6.

It is understood the eight-year-old ran behind the back of the bus into an oncoming car during the after school drop-off from Bees Creek Primary School.

Harrison was raced to Royal Darwin Hospital with critical head injuries, where he remains in the intensive care unit.

The Top End community has rallied around Harrison and his family, raising more than $12,000 two weeks after the crash.

Ms Apostoles said the recovery process for her little boy was unclear.

“Due to his injuries we don’t yet know what his prognosis is going to be,” Ms Apostoles said.

In a statement on behalf of the Harrison’s family, Ms Apostoles said they were “overwhelmed with the love and support we have received from the community”.

As her family waits by Harrison’s bedside, Ms Apostoles wanted to remind all families to talk to their children about road safety.

Eight-year-old Harrison Grey was hit by a car after getting off the Bees Creek Primary School bus on Tuesday December 6.

“School holidays are starting and everyone needs to be aware of kids being out and about on or near roads and car parks more at this time,” Ms Apostoles said.

Family friend Casey Speirs has taken action to help the Grey family following the “unthinkable” tragedy.

Ms Speirs set up a Go Fund Me to pay for the Grey family’s basic essentials and bills while Harrison remained in hospital.

“He is still in a critical condition and has a long road ahead for recovery,” she said.

“I would like to take some financial stress away from this family so they can focus all their attention on their child’s well being and recovery.”

In the first five days the fundraiser raised over $10,000, with Ms Speirs stating any extra donation money would go to the ICU ward at the hospital.

Donate to the Grey family here.

Major crash investigators have called for information about the Bees Creek crash, including calling for dashcam footage of a Ford sedan and a bus.

The crash comes in a horror year on Northern Territory roads.

To date 50 people have died on Territory roads this year, with 15 more lives lost compared to 2021.

Detective Acting Superintendent John Ginnane said 95 per cent of crashes were preventable, with human error “almost always” a factor.

“Every year police stand in front of cameras like this and, and plead with people to be careful and be conscious of others on the roads,” Superintendent Ginnane said.

“And if you drive thinking that your own children are in the traffic ahead, and beside and behind you, everyone will get to go there where they want to be in one piece.

“(Crashes because of) driver overconfidence, not driving to the conditions, not wearing a seatbelt, speeding, driving while impaired or being distracted while using a mobile phone or, trying to change podcasts or any of this myriad of other things — None of them are necessary.”

Originally published as Eight-year-old Harrison Grey in induced coma after Bees Creek bus crash