Australia: Truck driver charged after 7 children seriously injured in collision with school bus

By ROD McGUIRK
Associated Press

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A truck driver has been charged after seven children were hospitalized with serious injuries when he rear-ended a school bus on the outskirts of Melbourne in southeastern Australia. Police say the dump truck hit the back of the school bus carrying 45 students and caused it to overturn Tuesday afternoon at an intersection in Eynesbury, a semi-rural community west of Melbourne. Head injuries, arm amputations and suspected spinal injuries were reported. Police say the 49-year-old truck driver was charged Wednesday with four counts of dangerous driving causing serious injury. His name has not been made public. He will appear via a video link in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court later Wednesday.