By Cassandra Morgan and Marta Pascual Juanola
The devastated family of a speech pathologist who was killed when a water tanker crashed into a preschool has made a public statement, saying they have “an enormous hole in our hearts”.
Speech pathologist Eleanor Bryant was working at Macedon Ranges Montessori Preschool in Riddells Creek, about 60 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, when the water tanker crashed through the playground about 2.20pm on Monday.
In a statement released this afternoon, her loved ones said they “will miss her like crazy”.
“We are devastated by the loss of our beautiful Eleanor,” Bryant’s family said. “She was the light of our lives: a cherished mother, wife, daughter and sister, and beloved by all her family and enormous network of friends.
“Her infectious smile, sense of humour and passion for life made her a joy to be around. There is an enormous hole in our hearts today.
“We thank the emergency services for their tireless work and the public for their beautiful tributes.”
Bryant was killed while saving children in an “act of bravery” as the truck ploughed into the preschool. Police believe the 68-year-old truck driver hit a bridge, a car and multiple signs before crashing into the preschool.
Bryant saved children from the path of the truck before she was struck and died at the scene. A three-year-old child was injured and suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries to their arm.
Police are yet to interview the truck driver, who remains in hospital under observation. They are investigating whether the man could have suffered a medical episode.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton on Tuesday said it was too early to “rule anything in or out” as the potential cause of the crash, which he described as a tragedy.
“I’m led to believe that [Bryant] acted heroically and moved a number of young children out of the way of the vehicle. So brave, just so brave,” Patton said.
On Tuesday morning, local mothers and their children laid flowers outside the preschool, which had its shed caved in and debris strewn around its playground.
Branches were torn from a tree outside and one mother stood, sobbing, while her children comforted her beside the preschool fence. Women entering the Riddells Creek Neighbourhood House next door wiped away tears and hugged each other around bunches of flowers.
Resident Walter Lucas struggled to hold back tears as he described the shock of hearing the news, and remembered Bryant, 43, as a lovely person and a hero. “That kid is now going to go and live his whole life. For her to take her life for that kid, it means a lot. It really does mean a lot,” Lucas said. “More than a hero – she’s a superhero.”
Bryant, a mother of two, was heavily involved in her community as a member of the Riddells Creek Basketball Club and the Macedon Ranges Running Club.
Social media posts show the 43-year-old promoting the running club at community days and sporting the club’s T-shirt during a trip to the United Kingdom with her husband in May.
Bryant saved children before she was killed.Credit: Nine
In an online tribute, the basketball club described Bryant as a generous and selfless woman who was committed to supporting children getting into sport.
“Eleanor was the most kind, thoughtful and funny friend,” the tribute said.
“Most importantly, Eleanor was an amazing mum and wife.”
Around the corner from the crash site, at Little Vic’s cafe – where Bryant was a regular – supervisor Luke Hannaford spoke to customers who knew the speech pathologist as he served them coffees on Tuesday morning.
He talked quietly as he recalled staff hearing the crash on Monday. “It was a very loud, unnatural crash,” Hannaford said. “You could tell just by the sound of it, it wasn’t going to be good.”
The cafe workers rushed out and saw paramedics and a fire crew there within minutes after the loud siren from the fire station rang out.
The path of destruction after a truck crashed into the preschool in Riddells Creek.Credit: Eddie Jim
Bryant sometimes took children from the kindergarten with her to the cafe, where they had smoothies, Hannaford said.
“It’s sad to see that so many people are affected by it, but we’re lucky to have a community like this so that we can support each other,” he said.
“For people to feel comfortable to come in here and have a chat about it already this morning speaks a lot for how close everyone is.”
Today presenter Alex Cullen also paid tribute to the speech pathologist, whom he grew up with in Coonamble in NSW’s central west.
An aerial view of the aftermath after a truck lost control and ploughed through the preschool on Monday.Credit: Nine News
“There are people in this world who you can’t quite believe are so kind, so generous, so wonderful and caring. Eleanor Bryant, or EJ as she was to us, was one of those people. Eleanor was a light that lit up every room – never had a bad word to say about anyone,” Cullen said.
“It does not surprise me one bit that Eleanor pushed those school kids out of the way yesterday to ultimately save their lives. She always put others first and [was] a great example to all of us.
“We will miss you, Eleanor, and thank you for everything you gave us.”
Locals have been campaigning to lower the speed limit on Main Road, where the preschool is located. One resident told The Age the thoroughfare had become an “endless road of traffic” and that vehicles “hurtled” through the town. The council endorsed a draft plan to lower it from 50km/h to 40km/h in June.
The crash came two weeks after an 11-year-old boy was killed when an SUV crashed through a primary school in Hawthorn East, and one year since five people were hit and killed by a BMW that failed to turn right outside a pub in Daylesford.
Major collision investigation unit detective Christian Von Tunk said Monday’s tragedy took place during play time and that it could have been considerably worse.
“We’ve lost a 43-year-old teacher’s aide, and we’ve had a child with a very near miss, and a group of children who are in very close proximity, plus some teachers who were fairly close as well,” he said at the scene on Monday evening.
“I dare say there’ll be some kids getting squeezed very tightly tonight.”
Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens. Get it here.