By Andi Yu

Copyright abc

The truck driver involved in a 2022 crash with a school bus that left multiple secondary school students with life-changing injuries has pleaded guilty to a dozen charges, including 10 counts of negligent driving causing serious injury.

A truck driven by Brett Michael Russell rear-ended a bus carrying Loreto College Ballarat students and staff in the early hours of September 21 on the Western Freeway at Bacchus Marsh, north-west of Melbourne.

The Victorian County Court heard on Wednesday that Russell, now aged 63, knew the brakes on a trailer he was towing were defective, but he told police shortly after the incident he decided to drive anyway “because I knew I’d be alright”.

But, while driving his usual freight route that morning, he could not stop the truck fast enough, careering into the school bus and sending it tumbling down an embankment.

Russell, who is in custody, appeared via video link while many of his young victims sat in the court gallery alongside their families and school staff.

The majority of the charges related to life-changing injuries suffered by multiple Loreto students and staff.

A lesser charge also related to three people who rendered assistance at the scene of the crash, making 35 victims in total.

Among the most severely injured was a student, aged 15 at the time, who had to undergo a life-altering surgery.

In a victim impact statement she read to the court, the young woman described her journey of lengthy hospital stays, using a wheelchair, losing all independence, suffering cognitive impairment, depression and ongoing extreme pain from multiple surgeries.

The student broke down in tears describing the changes to her life, with multiple people in the gallery also becoming emotional.

She said she’d written in her journal that, at times, she’d wished she had died in the crash.

The student described a variety of struggles including hating the way she looked, struggling to find clothing and shoes that fitted her, social isolation and no longer being able to pursue her sporting interests.

Russell sat listening with arms by his side throughout the student’s emotional statement.

Prosecutor Jim Shaw listed all the serious injuries students and staff had suffered in the crash — a long list of broken bones, cognitive impairment, lacerated organs, post-traumatic stress disorder and long-term back and neck issues.

Other injuries included mental health conditions such as anxiety and paranoia and impaired concentration.

Mr Shaw said that while being interviewed by police after the crash, he admitted to taking a risk with the defective brakes.

The court heard one of his truck driving colleagues had also flagged the faulty brakes before Russell set out.

More victims are expected to detail their suffering from the 2022 crash in court.

Russell will be sentenced at a later date.

The plea hearing continues.