A 12-year-old Teesdale girl who died in a school-bus crash on Wednesday morning is being remembered for her “kindness, warmth and joy”.
Year 7 Christian College Geelong student Milla Killeen died when the bus crashed at Stonehaven about 8.20am Wednesday, August 27.
Christian College Geelong executive principal Dr Mathilda Joubert paid tribute to Milla on Thursday.
“Milla will be remembered for her beautiful personal qualities, her vibrancy and infectious personality,” she said.
“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.”
Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives continue to investigate the crash.
Emergency services were called to the Hamilton Highway following reports a school bus had rolled over about 8.20am on Wednesday 27 August.
It’s believed the bus was turning left onto the Hamilton Highway from Friend in Hand Road when the incident occurred.
There were 28 school students on board the bus at the time ranging from primary to secondary school age.
A 16-year-old boy from Inverleigh was airlifted to hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening, injuries.
The driver of the bus, a 76-year-old 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 interviewed and released pending further enquiries.
The investigation remains ongoing.
