Macarthur Anglican School bus crash: Driver charged after boy, 14, hit by car in Cobbity, Sydney
Bus driver who allegedly beat and killed boy, 14, outside his school faces charges after a witness claimed she suffered a ‘medical episode’
- Medical crews were called to Macarthur Anglican School
- The 14-year-old boy was rushed to hospital, but could not be resuscitated
- Bus driver, 54, has been charged and will appear in court on Thursday
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A female bus driver has been charged after a teenage boy was allegedly hit and killed outside his school.
Emergency services were called to Macarthur Anglican School in Cobbitty in southwest Sydney just before 3pm on Wednesday to report that a 14-year-old boy had been hit by a bus.
Three ambulances and a helicopter rushed to the scene and resuscitated the teenager before transporting him by road to Liverpool hospital in critical condition, but he died a short time later.
The bus driver, a 54-year-old woman, was also taken to Liverpool Hospital for mandatory tests the Crash Investigation Unit has launched an investigation into what happened.
The woman was Arrested in hospital by police on Wednesday evening and charged with dangerous driving resulting in death and negligent driving (causing death).
An employee seems to be taking care of the bus driver after the accident. The side of the bus is badly damaged
Three ambulances and a trauma helicopter rushed to the scene and performed CPR on the boy
The woman was released on bail to appear in Liverpool local court on Thursday.
Her driver’s license was also suspended.
Terrified students revealed how they believed the bus driver had had a “medical episode” before allegedly going off the road, smashing through a steel bollard onto the sidewalk and allegedly running over the teen.
The crowded ‘bus zone’ area of Macarthur Anglican School, where children waited to go home at the end of the school day, was thrown into chaos following the tragic accident.
Shocked parents and teachers from the elite private school tended to the injured boy, while others had to force the emergency exits of the bus to get inside the children.
A photo from the scene showed the driver slumped in her seat while a member of staff attended to her.
A teenager died in hospital after the incident (pictured)
Superintendent Paul Fuller of Camden Police said they were speaking to witnesses.
“Obviously it was being picked up at school, so there were a lot of students and a lot of parents around,” he said.
A student who was on the bus told 7News that the driver appeared to be having some kind of medical episode before leaving the road.
Parents of other students on the bus also said they saw the driver have health problems before he lost control.
The exclusive school charges up to $21,000 a year in tuition, making it one of the most expensive in the Macarthur area.
K-12 coeducational private school principal David Nockles had already written to the school community on Wednesday night expressing his grief.
“The incident required a significant police and ambulance presence, including a helicopter,” Mr Nockles wrote.
“Many students, parents and staff witnessed the accident, so I would encourage you to talk to your children and support them if necessary.
Photos show the bus appears to have crossed a footpath and crashed into a tree at Macarthur Anglican School in south-west Sydney (pictured)
An air ambulance landed on the school playing field to rush the boy to hospital (pictured)
The school is one of the most expensive in the MacArthur area
“Tomorrow morning we will hold age-appropriate meetings where we can begin debriefing the students and providing pastoral care.
“Your prayers are greatly appreciated at this time of need in our community.”
The police investigation into the matter is on-going.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police.