Macarthur Anglican School bus crash: Driver charged after boy, 14, hit in Cobbity, Sydney

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Bus driver who allegedly hit and killed boy, 14, outside his school is charged after witness claimed she suffered a ‘medical episode’

  • Medical crews were called to Macarthur Anglican School
  • Boy, 14, was rushed to hospital but could not be revived 
  • Bus driver, 54, charged and will face court Thursday

A female bus driver has been charged after a teenage boy was allegedly hit and killed out the front of his school. 

Emergency services were called to Macarthur Anglican School at Cobbitty in Sydney‘s south-west just before 3pm on Wednesday to reports a 14-year-old boy had been hit by a bus.

Three ambulances and a helicopter rushed to the scene and administered CPR to the teenager before transporting him by road to Liverpool Hospital in a critical condition, however he died a short time later.

The bus driver, a 54-year-old woman was also taken to Liverpool Hospital for mandatory testing as the Crash Investigation Unit launched an investigation into what happened.

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The woman was arrested by police at hospital on Wednesday night and charged with dangerous driving occasioning death and and negligent driving (occasioning death).

Macarthur Anglican School bus crash: Driver charged after boy, 14, hit in Cobbity, Sydney

A staff member appears to attend to the bus driver after the crash. The side of the bus is heavily damaged

Three ambulances and an air ambulance rushed to the scene and performed CPR on the boy

Three ambulances and an air ambulance rushed to the scene and performed CPR on the boy

The woman was refused bail to appear in Liverpool Local Court on Thursday.

Her licence was also suspended.

Terrified students revealed how they thought the bus driver suffered a ‘medical episode’ before she allegedly veered off the road, smashing through a steel bollard on the footpath and allegedly running over the teenage boy. 

The packed ‘bus zone’ area of Macarthur Anglican School where children were waiting to go home at the end of the school day – was thrown into chaos after the tragic crash.

Shocked parents and teachers at the elite private school attended to the injured boy while others had to force open the bus’s emergency exits to get to the children inside.

A photo from the scene showed the driver slumped over in her seat as a staff member attended to her.

A teenager died in hospital after the incident (pictured)

A teenager died in hospital after the incident (pictured) 

Superintendent Paul Fuller from Camden Police said they were in the process of speaking with witnesses.

‘Obviously it was at school pick up so there was a lot of students and a lot of parents in the area,’ he said. 

One student who was on the bus told 7News the driver appeared to have some kind of medical episode before leaving the road.

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Parents of other students on the bus also said they witnessed the driver having health troubles before the losing control.

The exclusive school charges up to $21,000 a year in student fees, making it one of the most expensive in the Macarthur area.

Principal of the K-12 co-educational private school, David Nockles, had already written to the school community by Wednesday evening to express his anguish.

‘The incident required considerable police and ambulance presence, including a helicopter,’ Mr Nockles wrote.

‘Many students, parents and staff witnessed the accident so I would encourage you to speak with your children and if needed provide support for them.

Pictures show the bus appears to have crossed a footpath and hit a tree at Macarthur Anglican School in south-west Sydney (pictured)

Pictures show the bus appears to have crossed a footpath and hit a tree at Macarthur Anglican School in south-west Sydney (pictured)

An air ambulance landed on the school's playing field to rush the boy to hospital (pictured)

An air ambulance landed on the school’s playing field to rush the boy to hospital (pictured)

The school is one of the most expensive in the MacArthur region

The school is one of the most expensive in the MacArthur region 

‘Tomorrow morning we will hold age-appropriate assemblies where we can begin debriefing the students and provide pastoral care support.

‘Your prayers are very much appreciated at this time of distress in our community.’

The police investigation into the circumstances is ongoing.

Anyone with information is being asked to contact police.

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