SYDNEY, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Police in the Australian state of Victoria told media on Wednesday that they have charged a truck driver with four counts of dangerous driving causing serious injury, after his truck hit a school bus in Melbourne's west and caused "life-changing" injuries to young students.
The charges relate to a collision between a school bus carrying 45 students and a tipper truck on Exford Road in Eynsbury shortly before 4:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday, according to Victoria police.
The 49-year-old truck driver has appeared before a local court and been granted bail. He is expected to face court again in October.
Eighteen children were taken to hospital, seven with serious injuries. The bus driver, a 52-year-old man, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
At a media conference held on Wednesday afternoon, Victoria Police Superintendent Michael Cruse gave an update on the incident, saying that the bus picked up the children from Exford Primary School.
"It traveled along Exford Road and as it turned right into Murphys Lane, it has been struck from behind by the truck. That collision caused the bus to flip onto its side and enter the intersection with Murphys Lane," said Cruse.
"And as a result of that collision, you know, several children in the bus have received life-changing injuries."
"It is a difficult environment to work in. The intersection is surrounded by paddocks. So we had to set up just temporary triage areas. Those who were most seriously injured were conveyed to hospital really quickly. They got to the Royal Children's and also the Sunshine Hospital," he added.
Bernadette McDonald, chief executive officer of the Royal Children's Hospital, told reporters on Wednesday morning that the hospital received nine patients, two of whom were discharged from the emergency department with minor injuries, while seven patients were admitted, with one of those patients in the intensive care unit.
"The ages of the children range from five to 11 years. The children have suffered multiple and traumatic injuries, including partial and complete amputations of arms, multiple crushed limb injuries, severe lacerations to head and body, head injuries, glass shard injuries, and three patients are currently receiving spinal support and being monitored carefully in terms of spinal injuries," said McDonald.
Police are still continuing the investigation. ■