Schoolboy Dragged 350 Meters by Bus in Melbourne After Door Closes on Him
A terrifying incident in Melbourne has highlighted serious safety concerns on public transport after a schoolboy was dragged alongside a moving bus for over 350 meters. The 12-year-old, named Nathaniel, was getting off a public bus in Wheelers Hill last month when the driver closed the back door before he was fully out, trapping his arm and backpack.
Nathaniel, who had only been taking the bus independently to school for two months, was forced to grip a safety railing inside the bus and bring his knees to his chest to avoid his legs dragging along the road. He narrowly missed hitting parked cars as the bus drove along Brandon Park Dr. The driver eventually noticed Nathaniel caught on the door and pulled over at the next stop.
Mother Shares Distressing CCTV Footage
The boy's distraught mother shared video of the incident captured by multiple CCTV cameras, showing her son trapped and dragged along by the bus. "It is a miracle Nathaniel was able to walk away uninjured," his mother said in the video. "However, he now suffers from anxiety and no longer feels confident to catch the bus alone."
Nathaniel is currently seeing a psychologist to help him process the trauma. His mother noted that support from the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), a government organisation that provides insurance for transport accident injuries, has been limited to covering out-of-pocket expenses for his psychologist appointments.
Lack of Support and Safety Failures
She also expressed frustration that she has received no support from Ventura Bus Lines, the company that owns and operates the bus involved. "There have been no acknowledgement of the safety failures identified, no commitment to improve operational procedures or safety training, no review of their technology and equipment and zero incident transparency," she said.
She added, "No child should ever be put in such danger on public transport especially now the Victorian government's free youth Myki which encourages more children under the age of 18 to travel independently every single day." Ventura Bus Lines has been contacted for comment regarding the incident.
The incident raises urgent questions about bus safety protocols and the need for better training and technology to prevent such occurrences in the future.
