Police are yet to interview the driver of an out-of-control truck that crashed into a school killing a kindergarten worker who has been remembered as a kind and generous person.
Investigations are continuing after a 68-year-old driver veered his water tanker off the road and ploughed into the Macedon Ranges Montessori Preschool’s playground, northwest of Melbourne on Monday.
Eleanor Bryant, a 43-year-old speech pathologist who worked at the Riddells Creek kindergarten, died at the scene while a three-year-old boy was taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Victorian Police Commissioner Shane Patton said the driver remains under hospital observation and will be interviewed once he is medically cleared.
Mr Patton said it was still too early to confirm whether the driver suffered a medical episode.
“We’re not going to rule anything in, and we’re not going to rule anything out at this stage,” he told ABC Melbourne Radio on Tuesday.
In an emotional tribute on Tuesday, Nine’s Today Show presenter Alex Cullen described his childhood friend as “a light that lit up every room and never had a bad word to say about anyone”.
“There are people in this world who you can’t quite believe are so kind, so generous, so wonderful and caring,” he said.
“Eleanor Bryant, or EJ, as she was to us, was one of those people.”
He said the community was hurting after Ms Bryant’s death.
“It does not surprise me one bit that Eleanor pushed those school kids out of the way yesterday to ultimately save their lives, she always, always put others first and was a great example to all of us,” he said.
She was an accomplished speech pathologist who grew up in Coonamble in NSW’s central west and leaves behind a husband, 11-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter.
Mr Patton described Ms Bryant as heroic after preliminary briefings indicated she moved multiple young children out of the truck’s way.
“Just so brave, and the whole incident is an absolute tragedy,” he said.
A boy hurt in the accident was treated for an arm injury, which ambulance officials said was not life-threatening.
Detective Senior Sergeant Christian Von Tunk said initial investigations indicated the truck lost control on a bridge about 120m from the pre-school.
“It’s a tragic set of circumstances which actually could have been a lot worse,” he said on Monday.
“I don’t know how only one person has died.”
The local basketball club also paid tribute to their equipment and uniform co-ordinator.
“Riddells Creek Basketball Club are devastated to learn of the passing of one of our own,” the club’s Facebook post read.
“Eleanor was the most kind, thoughtful and funny friend.
“She gave generously to her community and was committed to supporting the RCR kids to get onto the court. Most importantly, Eleanor was an amazing mum and wife.”
McKenzie Water owner Alan McKenzie confirmed the truck belonged to his company.
“Our experienced 68-year-old driver is understood to have suffered a medical episode and remains in hospital … we are doing what we can to support him and his family,” he said.
Macedon Ranges council chief executive Bernie O’Sullivan offered his deepest condolences.
“Our immediate priority is to support those affected and our broader communities – particularly those in Riddells Creek – however we practically can,” he said.
