A photo has emerged of the driver whose water tanker crashed into a preschool, killing a heroic teacher who was getting children out of danger rather than trying to save herself.
Frank Castellucci was behind the wheel of a water tanker semi-trailer that left the road and crashed into the playground at Macedon Ranges Montessori Preschool in Riddells Creek, northwest of Melbourne, on Monday afternoon.
Eleanore Bryant, 43, who died pulling children out of the way of the tanker, has been remembered as a “life and death” hero and a talented speech therapist.
Bec Burton has shared a touching video of Ms Bryant with her profoundly deaf daughter Milla.
Mrs Bryant rewarded the delighted little girl with a twist in her arms after Milla got a word right.
“We are beyond devastated and struggling to understand the loss of such a beautiful soul,” Burton wrote online.
Mrs. Bryant has been Milla’s speech therapist since she was three years old.
“The dedication, patience and love you have given Milla when she attended our home every week and now her school has changed her life,” Ms Burton continued.
Truck driver involved in fatal preschool accident Frank Castellucci, 68, remains in hospital for observation
‘She wouldn’t be where she is now without this amazing lady.
“Thank you for always believing in Milla and showing her how much you care.”
On Channel Nine’s A Current Affair on Tuesday night, Burton said Eleanor was “not just a therapist”.
“He loved Milla and she became part of his family every week he came to our house,” Mrs Burton said.
‘If it meant doing the lesson under the table, she would sit under the table and play with it in the dollhouse. He found a way to make learning fun and Miller just embraced it.’
Burton revealed that her daughter would call Mondays “Eleanor Day.”
“She was a hero in life and a hero in death,” Mrs Burton said of the mother of two.
Victoria Police Commissioner Shane Patton told Nine Castellucci remains in hospital but will be interviewed as soon as possible.
Bryant’s family released a statement saying they “are devastated by the loss of our beautiful Eleanor.”
It is understood that Mr Castellucci suffered a medical episode which caused him to lose control of his vehicle.
Alan McKenzie, the owner of McKenzie Water, who hired Mr. Castellucci as a driver, said they have been unable to contact the injured man, possibly because police confiscated his phone.
However, the boss revealed to Nine that he is not aware of any medical condition Mr Castellucci suffered that may have caused the accident.
McKenzie added that her small business was “extremely distraught and equally bewildered by the tragedy.”
Ms Bryant’s family issued a statement saying they were “devastated by the loss of our beautiful Eleanor” and that it had “left a hole in their hearts”.
‘She was the light of our lives: a beloved mother, wife, daughter and sister, and loved by all her family and huge network of friends.
‘Her infectious smile, sense of humor and passion for life made her a pleasure to be around.
‘Today there is a huge void in our hearts.
‘We thank the emergency services for their tireless work and the public for their beautiful tributes.
“We will miss her like crazy.”
TO gofundme page Hosted by James Wagstaff it has raised over $51,000 of its set target of $80,000 and the money will go towards supporting “Eleanor’s beautiful children in the future”.
On Tuesday afternoon, an outpouring of grief also manifested outside the preschool where Mrs Bryant, known to some of the children as ‘Nor Nor’, lost her life.
Dozens of mourners paraded down the path to the front of the preschool to lay floral tributes, some of which were placed directly on the shattered fence where the water tanker crashed into the playground.
Eleanore Bryant, 43, who died pulling children out of danger has been remembered as a ‘life and death’ hero and a talented speech therapist.
School teacher Caitriona Goldsworthy said Bryant was doing her job when the tragedy occurred.
“He had a lot of knowledge, but he also worked with kids at our school and that’s what he did here,” she said.
Local Walter Lucas described Ms Bryant as a “superhero” for her brave actions.
Mr. Lucas was right across the street when he witnessed the bloody aftermath of the accident.
‘She is a hero. “She is a local hero,” he said. ‘She saved that child’s life to put her own life into it. She is a true hero.
‘That child is now going to continue living his entire life and for her to take her life for that child really means a lot. It means a lot. She is more than a hero. She’s a superhero.’
Lucas, whose mother was Bryant’s best friend, said her loss would be felt by the local community for a long time.
“She loved the little kids here,” he added. ‘He loved spending time with everyone and obviously when we found out he was here it really hit us hard.
‘He was a lovely person, two lovely children. “Obviously everyone is still in shock and piecing together how it happened.”
The boy saved by Ms Bryant was taken to Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital with serious injuries to his arm.
