Heroic kindergarten teacher identified after horror crash
A heroic kindergarten teacher who died saving preschoolers from an out-of-control water tanker that crashed through the school's playground has been identified.
Mother-of-two Eleanor Bryant worked with children with special needs at the Macedon Ranges Montessori Pre-School in Riddells Creek in Melbourne’s northwest.
Bryant tragically died at the scene after the crash, while a three-year-old boy was injured and was taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital with a serious upper-body injury following the incident, Ambulance Victoria said.
The driver of the truck, 68, is thought to have had a medical episode and was taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition, but police are still investigating the incident.
Sunrise reporter Teegan Dolling paid tribute to Bryant on Tuesday morning, saying, “She is the mum herself of two really young children. She’s been remembered this morning as a very happy speech pathologist, and mum who loved it here at the Macedon Ranges Montessori Pre-School."
“What she did yesterday police are saying was heroic. She was working here at the school looking after a three-year-old boy. It was around 2.30pm when the water truck came hurtling down the road, smashed through the play equipment and it was playtime.
“The preschoolers were out on the playground. She’s selflessly put herself in harm’s way … saving the life of the three-year-old.
“Sadly, she died at the scene. A little boy was rushed to hospital. He’s got injuries to his upper body. As to why this has happened, the police are still investigating.
“The scene is cleared here this morning. They believe the 68-year-old truck driver may have had a medical episode.”
McKenzie Water owner Alan McKenzie confirmed that the truck belonged to his company and the driver was understood to have suffered a medical episode, adding that they were "devastated" by the crash and sending their "deepest sympathies" to those affected.
Detective Senior Sergeant Christian Von Tunk said initial investigations led them to believe the truck lost control on a bridge about 120m from the kindergarten.
“It appears there’s some contact with that bridge — we can see some debris,” he said. “There are also some signs on the left-hand side of the road that appear to have been struck as well."
“It’s a tragic set of circumstances which actually could have been a lot worse. This is one of those close calls and I don’t know how only one person has died today.”
Image credits: Seven