Mum praises Jetstar for full refund after trip cancelled because her daughter was involved in horror bus crash
A mum of a girl shaken up in a horrendous school bus crash has thanked Jetstar for its incredible kindness in the wake of the accident.
A mum of a girl shaken up in a horrendous school bus crash has thanked Jetstar for its incredible kindness in the wake of the accident.
Twenty-seven schoolgirls from Loreto College in Ballarat, Victoria, were on their way to the airport for a school trip on Wednesday when the bus overturned after colliding with a truck.
Thankfully they all survived, but one girl has had her leg amputated.
The mother of one of the girls was on the way to the airport herself to go on holiday when she received a call with the devastating news.
“I wanted to say how Jetstar has softened the blow of what as been an horrific day for my family,” she wrote on Facebook.
“We were on our way to the airport separately, for our trip to Bali, when we learned how serious the crash was.
“Their school trip to USA Space camp which was happening, when we were to be in Bali, will be cancelled and we must care for our girl. As a consequence our trip today is off.”
She went onto say that Jetstar had been “nothing short of amazing”.
“They have refunded our entire trip,” she continued.
“I just wanted to give credit where due. Please give your loved ones an extra squeeze.”
The bus and truck collided on the Western Hwy, near the intersection of Condons Lane, about 3.15am.
The bus smashed through the roadside barrier and rolled several metres down an embankment.
Good Samaritan Trevor Oliver, who works for a towing company, said he was shocked by what he saw.
“Instantly your heart sinks, but then to get there and find students, (it’s) another world,” he told 7 News.
Mr Oliver went down the embankment, and with the help of about six other people, took off the driver’s windscreen so the girls could get out.
“The worst one was a girl who had her leg partially amputated,” he said as he shed tears.
“Three of us got hold of her … we got her free and carried her out.
“(I) was just trying to calm her down, grabbing whatever we could to wrap her leg because we were conscious of her bleeding.
“It just seemed like an eternity to get enough ambulances there.”
Ballarat Police Acting Superintendent Jason Templar said the fact that everyone had been wearing seatbelts probably prevented any deaths.
“Early indications from the investigations is that they were all wearing seatbelts which has probably saved any fatalities from the bus, which is fantastic,” he said.
”Had that not been the case … we could have been talking about a different outcome.”
Five of the students had to be cut free from the bus, while those who were less injured helped direct assistance to those who needed it.
Paramedics assessed more than 30 people on scene with “traumatic injuries”.
Superintendent Templar said first responders, which included ambulance services and paramedics, were highly impressed with the way Loretto students and staff handled the crash.
Some managed to extract themselves from the bus after it came to rest on its roof.
The group were supposed to be flying to the US for a NASA space camp at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
Loreto principal Michelle Brodrick said the trip was a “once in a lifetime opportunity”.
“That‘s where they thought they were going to be today,” she said.
Two teenage girls, one with lower body injuries and the other with upper body injuries, were flown to the Royal Children’s Hospital in serious but stable conditions.
The male truck driver was also been taken to hospital by road with serious injuries.
The bus was carrying students ranging from year nine to year 11, four adults and the bus driver – who have been taken to hospital for observation.
At least two teachers – a woman aged in her 40s and a man aged in his 50s – were taken by road to hospitals in a serious condition.
A man in his 50s, a woman in her 40s and four more female students also suffered injuries but were in stable conditions.
Ballarat Base Hospital implemented a code brown following the crash, which was stood down at 2pm.
Grampians Health said the 15 students at Ballarat Base Hospital were in a stable condition and have all been reunited with their families.
“Grampians Health can confirm that one Loreto staff member and 15 students were transferred to the Ballarat Base Hospital for treatment and observation following the accident, and all are in a stable condition,” it said in a statement.
“Ballarat is a close community, and we understand there is concern for those involved in this accident. We can confirm that all students in our care have been reunited with their families, and some have been discharged home.”
As of 3pm on Wednesday, thirteen patients had been discharged.
The remaining three have been admitted to Ballarat Base Hospital in stable conditions.
Other students involved were taking to hospitals around Melbourne in stable conditions.
Ms Brodrick described Ballarat as a “close community” and said the students were in “everyone‘s thoughts” in the historic mining town.
She said she had spoken to a number of students, and confirmed that “everyone is recovering.”
Road crime investigation Detective Inspector Roger Schranz said there speed reduction road signs were in place due to a heavy vehicle collision that happened about 5.30pm on Tuesday.
There were no casualties in the earlier crash.
“The collision involving the bus and truck happened while Victoria Roads crews were still clearing the area,” Inspector Schranz said.
Police believe the bus had stopped at the speed reduction signs when the truck, which was unable to slow down in time, crashed into the bus, sending it rolling down the embankment.
The speed limit on the freeway, which is usually 110km/h, was reduced to 40km/h at the time of the crash.
“The bus slowed down as per the signs indicating the reduced speed,” Inspector Schranz said.
“The truck has then come around the corner and headed down towards the hill. It’s seen the speed reduction and the banked traffic and collided with the bus. Forcing the bus of the left-hand side of the freeway down the cliff.
“It was quite chaotic, with people self-evacuating (from the bus), witnesses around and bumper-to-bumper traffic.”
Superintendent Templar confirmed the Major Collision Investigation Unit was investigating the crash, but refused to comment on the specifics of the incident other than describing it as a “rear-end” collision.
He said the investigation would continue, while road closures are anticipated to last until midnight.
Inspector Schranz said the truck had been “considerably damaged”.
“It’s destroyed the front cabin, you can barely get into it,” he said.
Superintendent Templar said the bus driver, who he confirmed was a Victorian male, was undergoing treatment in hospital and was yet to be spoken to.
Inspector Schranz said the truck driver was “very fortunate to be alive”, as was everyone involved.
“As a detective, I look at that scene and assume someone would have passed away, so they’re all very fortunate indeed,” he said.
He said they were “incredibly grateful no one was killed.”
He said the crash was every parent’s “worst nightmare”.
“I’d say it was horrific for them (the students) but just as horrific for their parents,” Inspector Schranz said.
A grandmother of one of the students told 3AW her daughter drove to the crash site to check on her child.
“My daughter drove down to Bacchus Marsh. She was stuck in traffic,” the grandmother said.
“Her husband got out of the car and ran down to the bus to let her know that her daughter was fine, which was good news. And most of them are quite well I believe.”
Loreto College Ballarat said it was grateful for the care those involved had received.
“Emergency responders attended the site and co-ordinated the care and support for students and staff who were triaged at the scene and transported to hospital and remain in excellent care,” the school said in a statement.
“The college is very appreciative of the quick and professional response of the emergency services personnel at the scene, and very grateful to Grampians Health for their ongoing support.
“Our caring Loreto community has deep concern for the injured and their families and we ask for their privacy to be respected.”
Grampians Health chief executive Dale Frasier praised the work of those involved in the crash.
“They‘ve (first responders) made a substantial difference to an outcome that could otherwise have been quite devastating,” he said.
“But I also pay specific attention and mention to the staff and students, who when the stories come out will be acknowledged for the substantial work they did to bring care and comfort to those in a very stressful situation.
“Also we just acknowledge we had a lot of night shift staff who would otherwise been coming off shift. They stayed on, worked extra hours, went above and beyond the call of duty to provide care.”
Local state MP Juliana Addison, a former Loreto student, passed on her love to those impacted by the crash.
Ms Addison has a daughter who also goes to the school, who is believed to be in the year below the students on the bus.
“Sending my love to all the Loreto families impacted by the bus accident on the Western Highway. Thank you to the first responders on the scene,” she said.
“Thinking of your girls and their friends. As a Loreto mum myself, it is a very sad day.”
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he had spoken to Ms Brodrick.
“My thoughts go out to all the students, teachers and drivers affected, and the whole Ballarat community. The images and reports of the crash on the Western Highway are shocking,” he said.
“I’ve spoken with Loreto College’s Principal, and we’ll give the school community all the support they need.
“To all the first responders who have been taking care of those involved, thank you so much.”
She said Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews called her earlier today.
Ms Brodrick said Mr Andrews “offered his support and showed his understanding” during their call.
“He reached out to provide additional support services if we needed them,” she said.
The students were on their way to the US to spend six nights at the NASA space camp, two nights in Washington, a tour of the US Capitol building, lunch with an astronaut and an airboat tour through the Florida Everglades.
The excursion, which cost parents $7500 per student, had previously been cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of Covid restrictions.
Pictures from the scene shows school bags scattered across the grass as the bus lies on its side.
Any concerned parents seeking information regarding their children have been told to not attend the scene and to instead call Ballarat Police Station on 5336 6000.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision and urge any witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to contact Crime Stoppers.
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