Teacher to the rescue
Quick thinking saves students as bus runs off road
THE quick actions of a Cairns schoolteacher are believed to have averted possible disaster after a bus carrying a group of children crashed near Mareeba.
Year 8 students from Trinity Anglican School were on their way to camp on the Tablelands yesterday when the vehicle left the road and crashed into a paddock. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, although it is believed the driver may have suffered a medical episode.
It is understood a teacher sitting near the driver managed to take control of the vehicle and slow it before it ploughed into a paddock.
Queensland Ambulance Service said the male driver was taken to Mareeba Hospital, while two students both aged 14 were treated for minor injuries at the scene.
TAS principal Paul Sjogren praised his staff and said students had been offered support.
“We are incredibly thankful that injuries were minimal and appreciate the calm professionalism of the staff accompanying the students and the emergency services who assisted,” he said.
“Our priority is on the welfare and wellbeing of our students, staff and their families.
“Those students involved have now been debriefed back at school and counselling support has been made available.”
Cairns police Senior Constable Mark Bayliss said the bus left the road near the Gilmore Rd intersection with the Kennedy Highway about 11.30am.
He said it was believed the bus travelled down a grass verge, hit a culvert and ended up in a field. The bus suffered significant damage with the front window and door both smashed.
The students were returned to Cairns and are expected to travel to their camp today.
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