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.