Loreto College bus crash victims back at school
As some Loreto College students involved in a horrific bus crash get set to return to school, one girl who suffered serious injuries remains in hospital.
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Surgeons have salvaged the limb of a student severely injured in a horrific crash involving dozens of students from Ballarat’s Loreto College earlier this month.
The girl remains in hospital amid a string of intensive surgeries to the lower part of one of her legs after a school bus carrying 27 students rolled down an embankment near Bacchus Marsh.
Principal Michelle Brodrick said the student’s injuries were “very serious”.
“The family has advised that surgeons are confident the leg has been saved, but a lengthy process of rehabilitation will follow,” she said.
The 26 other students injured in the crash are now recovering at home and about 13 of those plan to return to school when term four starts on Monday.
Students still too unwell to resume school full-time will have shorter school days and more rest breaks on campus as they recover.
Timetables will also be adjusted for the students as classes are held in alternative classrooms to make sure students still dealing with mobility issues can get to class.
Four school staff were also on board the bus when a truck rear-ended it on the Western Hwy during the early hours of September 21 as the students made their way to Melbourne Airport for a NASA space camp in the US.
A B-double truck collided with the bus about 3.15am near the intersection of Condons Lane before it plummeted down the embankment.
About 30 people were assessed by emergency crews at the scene before they were taken to hospital.
Police continue to probe the collision.
At the time, police said it was only because all the girls were wearing their seatbelts that no one had been killed.
The crash has lead to a push from road safety experts for seatbelts to become mandatory on all buses in Victoria.
Principal Michelle Brodrick said VCE students due to start their end-of-year exams in the coming weeks may receive special consideration from the state’s curriculum body.
“The wellbeing of all students and staff of the College remains our highest priority and
provision for counselling and pastoral support is ongoing,” Ms Brodrick said.
“The College is also working with the VCAA regarding appropriate special consideration
arrangements for students studying the VCE.
“More broadly, College leadership and staff are working to make the return to school as
normal as possible for all students, with a clear focus, as always, on high-quality teaching
and learning.”
Ms Brodrick thanked the wider school community who had offered the girls emotional and financial support in the wake of the crash.
“We remain thankful for the ongoing support of the Loreto College Board, Diocese of Ballarat
Catholic Education Limited (DOBCEL), The Department of Education and Training (DET),
Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS), Loreto Ministries, and other Ballarat
Schools,” she said.
“We also wish to acknowledge and express deep gratitude to the many schools,
organisations and individuals, from across the country and internationally, who have sent
prayers and words of encouragement and support.”
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