Why was Brett Michael Russell jailed after the school bus crash?

Brett Michael Russell was jailed for over 12 years because he drove a 62-tonne truck with known faulty brakes, causing a collision that seriously injured 27 students on a school bus.

How many students were injured in the Bacchus Marsh school bus crash?

Twenty-seven students from Loreto College Ballarat were on the school bus when it was hit; 10 of them suffered serious injuries, including spinal fractures.

What was the sentence for the truck driver involved in the Loreto College bus incident?

The truck driver, Brett Michael Russell, was sentenced to 12 years and nine months in jail and will be eligible for parole after serving eight years.

Home / Crime and Justice / Trucker Jailed for 12+ Years After School Bus Crash

Trucker Jailed for 12+ Years After School Bus Crash

1 Dec

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Summary

Truck driver jailed over 12 years for crashing into school bus.
Faulty brakes on a 62-tonne vehicle caused the collision.
27 students suffered serious injuries including spinal fractures.

Trucker Jailed for 12+ Years After School Bus Crash

A truck driver, Brett Michael Russell, 63, received a jail sentence exceeding 12 years for causing a severe collision with a school bus carrying 32 people, including 27 students from Loreto College Ballarat. The incident occurred in September 2022 as the group was en route to Melbourne Airport for a trip to the United States.

Russell pleaded guilty to 12 charges, including 10 counts of negligently causing serious injury, after admitting he knew his 62-tonne vehicle had faulty brakes prior to the crash. While his defense highlighted his remorse and cooperation with authorities, the judge emphasized the significant suffering endured by the passengers and staff.

The collision resulted in multiple hospitalizations, with 10 individuals suffering serious injuries such as spinal fractures. Russell will spend at least eight years behind bars before being eligible for parole, a consequence of the grave risk he knowingly took by operating the vehicle with compromised brakes.