Zoie Bell, Ulladulla High: Facebook tributes flow for girl killed in bus crash
A 14-year-old Ulladulla High student has been remembered as a “lovely girl” and “great friend” after she was hit by a bus outside her school just days out from the holidays. Her death has rocked the close-knit coastal community.
The South Coast News
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The teen girl who died in front of shocked classmates after she was hit by a bus on the south coast has been remembered as a “lovely girl and a great friend”.
Zoie Bell, 14, died out the front of Ulladulla High School in front of teachers and fellow students on Wednesday – just days out from the school holidays.
Shortly after 3pm on Wednesday, emergency services were called to the intersection of South St and St Vincent Street, Ulladulla, after receiving reports a student had been hit by a bus.
Paramedics worked behind a screen at the incident site to save Zoie’s life, but sadly she died at the scene.
Students and staff have set-up a memorial inside the campus with flowers, photos and messages left as tributes to the teenager.
Tributes have also poured out across social media for the teenager with residents expressing their grief of the shocking loss, just two days before the school holidays begin in NSW.
Mother of another Ulladulla High School student, who asked to remain anonymous, said it was a heartbreaking incident, and that her daughter was very close with Zoie.
“She was here last weekend for a sleepover. My daughter is devastated and I am too,” she said.
“I Just feel sick to my stomach. I spoke with Zoie yesterday at my daughter’s school when she walked past me.
“She was a lovely girl and was a great friend to my daughter.”
Another Ulladulla mother, who wished to remain anonymous, said school staff who were outside the front of the school on South Street looked deeply distraught.
“I had a cry when I found (out) she died, but I think that was the Mum coming out in me. I just could not cope with that,” she said.
By 11am on Thursday, a GoFundMe page had been launched on behalf of Zoie’s family, with almost $1500 of the $10,000 goal already raised.
Principal Denise Lofts said she had spoken with Zoie’s family and ensured staff and students were counselled at the campus on Thursday.
“We’re making sure we’ve got all our counsellors for students and for staff. We’ve made contact with the family, that I have touched base with them just to ensure we have everything in place in terms of ensuring the wellbeing of students and staff. At a school, when these things that is the most important thing going forward,” she said.
Ms Lofts said the tight-knit community had shown its support for the school and its students over the past 24 hours.
“It’s really been an outpouring of sympathy, kindness for all of us,” she said.
“All of our students, the beautiful country students that we have here. When you lose one it hurts us deeply and it’s such a tragic accident.
“It’s a community that shows a lot of resilience, it’s a community that has been through a lot. “Moving forward we will definitely have to sustain the support and we know that sometimes these things reemerge at times and if we think about what we’ve been through as a community, this will be something that we will make sure that we keep a real close track on her, particularly for the friendship group, staff and family.”
Ms Lofts praised the students’ ability to turn to one another for emotional support. A memorial table with a box for letters to Zoe was set-up in a courtyard near the hall.
“When these things happen to young people they do really band together,” she said. “They understand that their friendships with each-other is really important. They’ve been writing letters, they’ve been making cranes, they’ve been using all their breaks to spend time together as well visiting the counsellors.”
South Coast District Police acting superintendent Ray Stynes said about a dozen children were aboard the bus when the incident occurred.
“Our condolences go to the school community and the family of the child,” he said..
“Likewise with the emergency services, we are looking after their respective counselling and welfare as well.”
When asked how the incident occurred or whether charges could be laid, Acting Supt Stynes said he would not pre-empt any information relating to the investigation.
The NSW Police crash investigation unit began investigations on Wednesday evening.
The bus driver was breath tested at the scene, returning a negative result. However, was taken to hospital for mandatory testing.
The Department of Education said counselling would be available at the school on Thursday.
“The Ulladulla High School community and the department are deeply saddened by the tragic death of one of our students this afternoon,” a Department of Education spokeswoman said.
“Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with the student’s family and friends at this most distressing time, and with our staff members who were first responders on the scene.”
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.
Mr Stynes urged anyone who witnessed the incident to speak to Ulladulla police or phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.