Mansfield teen critically injured in bus crash

A 17-year-old boy from the Mansfield area was airlifted to hospital after the bus, understood to be the 1.15pm V/Line service from Mansfield to Southern Cross, collided with two cars near the corner of Two Hills Road about 2.40pm on Thursday 24 September. Police said the bus struck a white Toyota Yaris and a blue Toyota Corolla. The driver of the Yaris, a 52-year-old woman from Ringwood East, tragically died at the scene. Her passenger, a 16-year-old girl from the Maroondah area, was taken to hospital with serious injuries. The Corolla driver, a 27-year-old Wangaratta man, was not injured. The bus driver, a 76-year-old Eltham man, was also not injured. Police said 18 passengers were on board the bus at the time, and several were hurt. Along with the Mansfield teenager, a 16-year-old from the Manningham area and a 50-year-old Windsor man were also taken to hospital with serious injuries. Earlier, Ambulance Victoria said paramedics assessed 21 patients at the scene. Sixteen did not require emergency treatment or transport. The Mansfield boy suffered life-threatening injuries, while other injured passengers included a teenage girl taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital in a stable condition and another teenage boy taken to Maroondah Hospital with upper body injuries. Glenburn CFA was first on scene, with brigade captain David Webb Ware taking on the role of CFA agency commander. Mr Webb Ware said the incident was tragic, but could easily have been worse. “Although tragic with one fatality, it could have been much, much worse,” he said. “It’s a bit confronting to be told there might be 20 casualties en route, but the absolutely most invaluable thing, above everything else, was the fact that there were a couple of off-duty paramedics there. “They were just passing by.” He said the off-duty paramedics were able to quickly triage patients and assist the injured before emergency crews arrived. “One of them was there and then another one turned up quickly, I turned up shortly thereafter,” he said. “They were able to triage the patients and deal with the injured ones and that made the difference.” Mr Webb Ware said the Emergency Management Team formed quickly, bringing together police, ambulance, SES and CFA commanders. “That worked extremely well,” he said. “Everything was resolved relatively quickly because there was nobody trapped. “The incident ran the way it should run.” CFA crews from Glenburn, Kinglake, Yea and Toolangi attended, along with Victoria Police, including the Major Collision Investigation Unit, Ambulance Victoria, Air Ambulance Victoria and MICA and ALS paramedics. With uninjured passengers needing shelter away from the crash scene, Glenburn Hall was opened to accommodate those from the bus. “All the people were taken to the Glenburn Hall and were looked after until they were all carted away by bus or however they got carted away,” Mr Webb Ware said. “That’s also a good news story because it worked.” It is understood another bus was arranged for uninjured passengers to continue their journey. The Melba Highway was closed between Oliver Street, Yea, and Healesville-Kinglake Road, Castella, before reopening about 8am the following morning. Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives are continuing to investigate the crash. Emergency services also responded to several other serious incidents on the Melba Highway in recent days. In Castella on Monday 21 September, a truck and car collided about 4.50pm. The driver of the car died at the scene, while the truck driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries. At Glenburn on Wednesday 23 September, a tractor and a vehicle were involved in a collision at the corner of Two Hills Road about 10.22am. The driver of the vehicle was airlifted to hospital. Later the same day, police appealed for witnesses after a black Holden Commodore struck a tree on the Melba Highway at Break O’Day Road, Glenburn, about 5.30pm. Investigators said the vehicle may have been driven erratically before the crash. Anyone with information about any of the incidents is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestoppersvic.com.au.