Father of truck driver arrested for horror school bus crash speaks out
The truck driver who crashed into a bus, causing it to roll over with school children inside on May 16, is “very distressed” over the incident, his father revealed.
"He's going to take a while to get over this,” renowned horse trainer Robert Gleeson told A Current Affair of his truck driver son Jamie Gleeson.
"He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and unfortunately there was a bus there as well," Robert said.
Police reported 49-year-old Jamie was driving dangerously when he rear-ended the bus carrying 45 students from Exford Primary School, leaving some with amputated limbs.
Jamie is a father of two boys aged 17 and 18.
He’s been driving trucks for 20 years and was just minutes away from home when he told police he saw the “sun flicker” through the trees before the crash.
The court hearing on May 18 heard Jamie has no criminal history and that initial test results ruled out him being drunk or on drugs.
He remained on the scene and called triple zero.
"He got out and helped take the kids out of the bus," Robert said.
"Jamie's nature is a very soft person. He cares about people very much and that was his natural reaction.”
Jamie’s family said he’s been a respected volunteer at the Country Fire Authority (CFA) for about 15 years and during that time, he has witnessed all kinds of incidents just like the tragic crash.
His father said the horror incident is not something that will go away for Jamie overnight, and all they can do as a family is give him support as things “take their course”.
"He'll have to live with it for the rest of his life but hopefully these kids in the bus and the families can repair," Robert said.
Robert said his son is heartbroken and unable to speak publicly due to the court case.
"He's very distraught. He's more distressed about the fact there's children involved and families involved," Robert said.
"It's one of those distressing things that's happened and we can't undo that and unfortunately a lot of people will be affected by this with their children.”
Jamie is one of two drivers for trucking company L&J Cartage.
He has been prohibited from driving trucks while on bail.
The bus driver involved in the crash has now returned home.
"It'll take him some time to work through and we'll support him," Christian's Buses director Campbell Christian said.
Robert said his family are thinking of everyone involved.
"Our heart goes out to the families of these children," he said.
"Fortunately there's no fatalities in this accident and if there had been, it would have been a much worse scenario than what we have now."
Image credit: A Current Affair