A teenager has died after being hit by a truck near Girton Grammar School in Bendigo
“I have reached out to Girton Grammar School principal Dr Emma O’Rielly to share my deepest condolences and offer any support needed in the days, weeks and months ahead. I would also like to thank our emergency services and first responders for their work.”
Dr O’Rielly told Nine News he described it as an “unspeakable tragedy”.
“As a school principal and a parent, I am absolutely devastated. Our young life was cut short, our family changed forever,” she said.
Brooks praised the work the school does to support other students in the district.
Bendigo’s SES Unit thanked community members who stopped to help and urged anyone affected by road trauma to contact the not-for-profit Amber Community.
“Hold your kids a little longer today, folks,” the unit wrote on Facebook.
Local Lisa Marie described the scene after the crash as “chaos all around”; Multiple emergency services work to rescue the teenager lying on the ground and police tape off the truck.
“My heart breaks for his parents,” she said. “Everyone is shocked and shattered for themselves and their families.”
Another resident reported seeing the teenager walking down the High Street minutes before the sirens were heard.
“It was just public panic,” the resident said. Traffic came to a halt during the fire brigade’s rescue effort.
After the accident, the truck was cordoned off by the police. Credit: Nine News
Laura Wallis, who also witnessed the aftermath of the crash, said the junction where the crash occurred was a major transit route for people entering and exiting Bendigo.
Wallis said he plans to return to the area late Friday evening to lay flowers in the 15-year-old’s honor.
“This affected me even more because this could have been my own baby,” she said.
Police advise citizens to find alternative routes.
Ambulance Victoria confirmed a number of paramedics attended the crash at around 8.35am on Friday.
In 2025, 231 people died on Victoria’s roads, an increase of 19 compared to the same period last year.
Road deaths in regional Victoria this year are 14 per cent higher than last year. The increase in Melbourne was 3 percent.
