Bus Dragging Incident in Melbourne Leads to Driver's Dismissal

A 12-year-old boy was dragged by a bus after his arm and school bag became trapped in its rear doors. The bus company terminated the driver's employment following an internal investigation.

The Incident

The incident occurred on March 16 on Brandon Park Drive in the suburb of Wheelers Hill.

Closed-circuit television footage shows the boy becoming trapped in the rear doors of a bus operated by Ventura. The bus then traveled approximately 350 meters with the boy trapped on the outside.

The bus stopped at the next scheduled stop, where the doors opened and the boy freed himself. He was not physically injured in the incident.

Response and Investigation

The boy's mother shared the CCTV footage on social media. In her post, she accused Ventura of negligence and stated the company referred the family to the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) regarding a compensation claim.

Ventura Bus conducted an internal investigation into the incident. Following this, the company dismissed the bus driver involved.

A Ventura spokesperson stated passenger safety is the company's priority and that it will review its driver training programs. The spokesperson also said the company is supporting the passenger and his family.

The matter was not initially reported to police. Victoria Police have since confirmed they are aware of the footage and are making enquiries.

Government Reaction

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan stated her thoughts were with the affected family. She confirmed the government is exploring avenues to support the family and has asked the minister responsible for the Transport Accident Commission to direct the TAC to contact them.

Premier Allan also confirmed Ventura is conducting its own investigation.