Car Accident Melbourne: 1 Dead, Three-Year-Old Boy Injured After Truck Crashes Into Victorian Preschool
A tragic accident unfolded at a preschool in Riddells Creek, Victoria, on Monday afternoon when a water tanker truck lost control and crashed into the kindergarten, killing a woman and injuring a child. The driver of the truck, who is believed to have suffered a medical episode, was reportedly assisting police with their inquiries.
The 43-year-old woman, who worked at the kindergarten, died at the scene, while a three-year-old boy was rushed to the Royal Children’s Hospital with non-life-threatening arm injuries.
According to Victoria Police, the truck hit a power pole before careening off the road and slamming into the preschool’s fence. Investigators believe the truck first made contact with a bridge about 120 meters from the kindergarten, scattering debris at the scene.
Despite the severity of the crash, Detective Senior Sergeant Christian Von Tunk described the situation as a “close call,” expressing disbelief that the incident wasn’t even worse.
The truck, owned by McKenzie Water, was being driven by an employee who had apparently suffered the medical episode. Alan McKenzie, the company’s owner, expressed his deep sadness over the incident, offering condolences to the families and community affected by the tragedy. “As a small, family-owned business, we are devastated by this tragic crash,” McKenzie said.
The community of Riddells Creek is in mourning following the devastating event, which comes less than two weeks after a similar incident at Auburn South Primary School in Melbourne, where a child was killed and others were injured when an SUV crashed into the school fence. The timing of these two accidents has raised concerns over safety in school zones, and authorities have pledged to investigate further.
The incident highlights the need for ongoing safety measures in residential and school areas, as the community continues to process the profound loss.