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“I’ve reached out to Dr Emma O’Rielly, principal at Girton Grammar School, to share my deepest condolences and offer any support needed in the days, weeks and months ahead. I want to also thank our emergency services and first responders for their work.”
Dr O’Rielly told Nine News called it “an unspeakable tragedy”.
“As the principal of the school and as a parent I’m absolutely devastated. We’ve had a young life cut short, we’ve had a family altered forever,” she said.
Brooks praised the work the school did to support other students in the area.
Bendigo’s SES Unit thanked community members who stopped to help, and urged anyone impacted by road trauma to contact the not-for-profit the Amber Community.
“Hold your children just a little longer today folks,” the unit wrote on Facebook.
Local Lisa Marie described the scene in the aftermath of the crash as “chaos everywhere”, with multiple emergency services working to save the teenager on the ground, and police sectioning off the truck with tape.
“My heart is breaking for his parents,” she said. “Everyone is just shocked and shattered for him and his family.”
Another resident reported seeing the teenager walking along High Street minutes before sirens were heard.
“It was just panic from the public,” the resident said. “Traffic was brought to a standstill as firefighters were trying to resuscitate them.”
The truck was cordoned off by police after the crash. Credit: Nine News
Laura Wallis, who also witnessed the aftermath of the crash, said the intersection where the accident occurred was a major thoroughfare for people travelling in and out of Bendigo.
Wallis said she planned to return to site later on Friday evening to lay flowers in honour of the 15-year-old.
“It’s just hit me harder because that could have been my own baby,” she said.
Police are advising people to find alternative routes.
Ambulance Victoria confirmed that multiple paramedics responded to the crash about 8.35am on Friday.
There have now been 231 lives lost on Victorian roads in 2025, up 19 on the same time last year.
Road deaths are 14 per cent higher in regional Victoria this year compared to last. The increase in Melbourne has been 3 per cent.
