Mt Ridley College boy hit by Craigieburn school bus in freak accident
A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy will be lucky to walk again after he was run over by a bus in a “freak accident” in Craigieburn yesterday afternoon.
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A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy is lucky to be alive after he was run over by a school bus in a “freak accident” in Craigieburn yesterday afternoon.
The Leader understands Mt Ridley College grade 4 student Charlee Jones hopped off the school bus about 3.25pm and ran towards the crossing at the corner of Grand and Newbury boulevards.
It is believed he tripped on the footpath and accidentally stepped in front of an oncoming school bus, which had been travelling north along Newbury Blvd and was turning left into Grand Blvd.
Police believe Charlee fell to the ground and his legs were run over by the rear wheels of the bus, which pulled over immediately after the incident.
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Charlee’s distraught mother Taylah said she arrived at the scene to see crowds of people from nearby businesses and schools surrounding her son.
“Realising it was my son was devastating,” she said, adding her other son Noah, 11, was riding his bike home at the time and found his brother moments after the accident happened.
“Watching the community take care of Charlee and Noah was very reflective of the Craigieburn community spirit.”
Ms Jones said Charlee was rushed to the Royal Melbourne Children’s Hospital. She said she was told her son had “shredded his calf muscle” and received two fractures on one leg near his knee and ankle.
“It’s pretty gruesome,” she said.
“He’s still in quite a lot of shock at the moment.
“He is having three surgeries and is expected to say in hospital for up to seven days.”
The nine-year-old is expected to make a full recovery after six to eight weeks.
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Craigieburn woman Beck Davies said her neighbour was among crowds of people helping Charlee at the accident scene.
“I believe she held him and talked to him to keep him awake while they waited for the ambulance,” she said.
“She was in shock when I saw her — she was sure that he was going to lose his leg so she’ll be very happy to know he is doing okay.”
Despite her son’s traumatic experience, Ms Jones said she didn’t want the bus driver to blame himself for what had happened.
“Neither the driver nor Charlee were at fault; it was just a freak accident,” she said.
“He’ll have to live with that memory for the rest of his life.”
Police have determined that no further police action will be taken.
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