A Geelong schoolgirl killed after a school bus rolled over in a horrific accident near has been remembered as beautiful person whose ‘warmth and joy impacted all’.
Christian College Geelong year 7 student Milla Killeen has been named as the student who tragically lost her life.
The keen and talented basketballer who played for Geelong United and played at the state championships sadly died at the scene.
The horror crash occurred at the intersection of the Hamilton Highway and Friend In Hand Road at Stonehaven, just outside of Geelong, Victoria, at 8.20am on Wednesday.
Victoria Police confirmed a boy was airlifted to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
The bus driver, a 76-year-old man Hamlyn Heights man, along with nine students sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were conveyed to hospital by road ambulance.
A further 14 students were taken to hospital for observation.
The bus driver has been released from hospital yesterday and is assisting police with their enquiries.
Christian College Geelong year 7 student Milla Killeen has been named as the student who tragically lost her life
A classmate who witnessed the crash recalled the horror when the bus rolled and crashed.
‘The bus was turning and the wind was so strong and it pushed the bus over and it fell on its side and a year 7 girl called Milla Killeen died and they were all stuck in the bus,’ the witness told the Daily Mail.
‘There were crazy winds in Geelong. Then after everyone got out the bus caught alight.
‘It was really awful. Lots of people were upset and now our school is offering support for people.
‘There were a few kids who also got injured and some went to Royal Children’s hospital and a few to a hospital in Geelong, the bus was one from Stonehaven.’
‘Everyone kind of went into shock after that and then the school called all the parents.
‘And everyone had to get picked up from school at the end of the day and no one was allowed to go on the bus and we had subs all day because the teachers had meetings.’
Christian College Geelong Executive Principal Dr Mathilda Joubert said the tragedy was a ‘profoundly distressing situation for our entire school community’.
‘It is with great sadness I confirm that the student who tragically lost their life in yesterday’s bus accident was Milla Killeen in Year 7,’ Dr Joubert said.
‘Milla will be remembered for her beautiful personal qualities, her vibrancy and infectious personality.
‘Her kindness, warmth and joy impacted all who shared her company. Milla was a keen and talented basketballer, and an integral part of the Christian College representative team at the recent State Championships.
‘She was a treasured member of our college community, and her loss is deeply felt by all staff, students and our Christian College families.
‘This is a time of unimaginable loss. Our deepest sympathies and prayers are with Milla’s family, and our college will continue to provide ongoing support.
‘In our deep grief, we are also coming together as a community to support one another, drawing strength from God, and the care and compassion that Milla herself demonstrated to others.
‘We ask that the family’s privacy, and that of our college community, be respected as we mourn this tragedy together.’
Daily Mail understands five children were transferred to the Royal Children’s hospital in Melbourne for treatment.
The college bus was understood to have been carrying about 28 students when it crashed and rolled-over.
Major Collision Investigation Unit detective Senior Sergeant Paul Lineham said police are probing multiple possible causes for the tragic accident.
The top MCIU investigator said police will look at everything including fatigue, possible drug or alcohol use, mechanical issues, medical episodes, driver competency and the intersection itself.
Sergeant Lineham also described yesterday morning’s crash scene as ‘really confronting’ for police, emergency services and parents.
‘As a parent myself it really does hit home,’ he said.
More to come.
