UPDATE: A truck driver has been sentenced to 12 years and 9 months in prison after a catastrophic crash injured multiple students aboard a school bus. Brett Michael Russell, 63, collided with the back of the bus on September 21, 2022, while it was transporting 32 passengers, including 27 students from Loreto College Ballarat, to Melbourne Airport for a NASA camp.
The collision left many students and teachers severely injured, with 10 individuals sustaining serious injuries, including spinal fractures. Fortunately, no fatalities occurred, but most passengers required hospitalization following the crash.
Russell pleaded guilty to 12 charges, including 10 counts of negligently causing serious injury, during a hearing at the Victorian County Court in October. He admitted to knowing that the brakes of his 62-tonne vehicle were faulty prior to operating the truck, raising serious questions about his judgment on that fateful day.
In court, Russell’s barrister argued that his immediate admissions to police regarding the faulty brakes and his guilty pleas demonstrated his “fundamental decency.” However, Judge Michael O’Connell emphasized the profound impact of the incident on the victims, stating, “You knew you were taking a serious risk.”
The judge acknowledged Russell’s remorse but made it clear that the suffering endured by the students, teachers, bus driver, and bystanders was significant, labeling the crash a “nightmare” for all involved.
Russell, who was taken into custody before sentencing, attended the court proceedings via video link from prison. He will be eligible for parole after eight years.
This case serves as a critical reminder of the importance of vehicle safety and the dire consequences of negligence on the road. As the community grapples with the aftermath, many are left to reflect on the harrowing experience that impacted so many lives that day.
