Seatbelts prove worth - The Border Mail 

POLICE have praised the safety measures of a Corryong transport company after six students walked away from a school bus crash yesterday morning.

The students, aged from five to 10, were all wearing seatbelts when the bus operated by Whitehead’s Tours slid down an embankment, south-east of Corryong, just alter 8am.

Police said the driver had just picked up a student near Bunroy Road and was heading south on the Upper Murray Road at Biggara when the driver lost control while crossing Biggara Creek.

“As he was crossing the bridge he made contact with the Armco railing, causing him to not be able to control the bus and as a result when he’s finished crossing the bridge the bus has veered towards the left and slid down a 5m embankment,” Leading Sen-Constable Steve Armati, of Corryong police, said.

He declined to go into more detail about what triggered the accident but he ruled out speed and alcohol as factors and said mechanical and environmental issues would be examined.

Sen-Constable Armati said fortunately all the children were wearing seatbelts, with Whitehead’s having a policy requiring all students to buckle up.

The police are impressed with not only this bus line, but all buslines in the area in regards to their compliance with appropriate seat restraints,” Sen-Constable Armati said.

“It went a long way today to ensuring the children walked away unscathed.”

Khancoban policeman Sen-Constable Gordon Spencer, who helped with traffic at the crash scene, praised the bus driver for ensuring all students were secure.

“They’re very lucky but it comes down to them wearing their safety belts, you couldn’t get a better resült,” he said.
Corryong College principal Tony Valente and Sacred Heart School senior teacher Christina Atley said parents had picked up students who were on the bus and taken them home for the day.

30th July 2009
The Border Mail
BY ANTHONY BUNN