A photo has emerged of the driver whose water tanker ploughed into a preschool, killing a heroic teacher who was pulling kids out of harm’s way instead of trying to save herself.
Frank Castellucci was behind the wheel of a water tanker semi-trailer that ran off the road careering into the playground of Macedon Ranges Montessori Preschool in Riddells Creek, north-west of Melbourne, on Monday afternoon.
Eleanore Bryant, 43, who died getting children out of the tanker’s path has been remembered as a hero in ‘life and death’ and a gifted speech therapist.
Bec Burton has shared heartwarming video of Ms Bryant with her profoundly deaf daughter Milla.
Ms Bryant rewarded the delighted child with a spin in her arms after Milla got a word correct.
‘We are beyond devastated and struggling to comprehend the loss of such a beautiful soul,’ Ms Burton wrote online
Ms Bryant has been Milla’s speech therapist since she was three years old.
‘The dedication, patience, and love she has given to Milla when attending our home every week and now her school, has changed her life,’ Ms Burton continued.
‘She would not be where she is now without this amazing lady.
‘Thank you for always having belief in Milla and showing her how much you care.’
On Channel Nine’s A Current Affair on Tuesday night, Ms Burton said Eleanor wasn’t ‘just a therapist’.
‘She loved Milla and she became a part of her family every week coming to our home,’ Ms Burton said.
‘If it meant doing the lesson under the table, she’d sit under the table playing in the doll’s house with her. She found a way to make learning fun and Miller just took to her.’
Ms Burton revealed her daughter would call Mondays ‘Eleanor day’.
‘She was a hero in life and a hero in death,’ Ms Burton said of the mother-of-two.
Victorian Police Commissioner Shane Patton told Nine that Mr Castellucci remains in hospital but will be interviewed as soon it was possible.
It’s understood Mr Castellucci suffered a medical episode which caused him to lose control of his vehicle.
Alan McKenzie, the owner of McKenzie Water, which employed Mr Castellucci, as a driver, said they have not been able to get in contact with the injured man, possibly because police have seized his phone.
However, the boss did reveal to Nine that he’s not aware of any medical condition Mr Castellucci suffered which may have caused the accident.
Mr McKenzie added that his small business was ‘extremely distressed and equally baffled by the tragedy’.
Ms Bryant’s family released a statement saying they ‘are devastated by the loss of our beautiful Eleanor’ and it had ‘left a hole in their hearts’.
‘She was the light of our lives: a cherished mother, wife, daughter and sister, and beloved by all her family and enormous network of friends.
‘Her infectious smile, sense of humour and passion for life made her a joy to be around.
‘There is an enormous hole in our hearts today.
‘We thank the emergency services for their tireless work and the public for their beautiful tributes.
‘We will miss her like crazy.’
A Gofundme page organsied by James Wagstaff has raised over $51,000 of it stated $80,000 goal with the money be put towards supporting ‘Eleanor’s beautiful children in the future’.
By Tuesday afternoon an outpouring of grief was also on display outside the preschool where Ms Bryant – known to some of the children as ‘Nor Nor’ – lost her life.
Dozens of mourners filed down the footpath to the front of the preschool to lay floral tributes, some of which sit directly at the mangled fence where the water tanker crashed through and into the playground.
School teacher Caitriona Goldsworthy said Ms Bryant had been doing her job when tragedy struck.
‘She was a wealth of knowledge, but she also worked with children at our school as well and that’s what she was doing here,’ she said.
Local man Walter Lucas described Ms Bryant as a ‘superhero’ for her brave actions.
Mr Lucas had been just across the road when he witnessed the bloody aftermath of the crash.
‘She’s a hero. She’s a local hero,’ he said. ‘She saved that kid’s life to put her own life in it. She’s a real hero.
‘That kid is now going to go on and live his whole life and for her to take her life for that kid really means a lot. It means a lot. She’s more than a hero. She’s a superhero.’
Mr Lucas, whose mother was best friend’s with Ms Bryant, said her loss would be long felt by the local community.
‘She loved the little kids in here,’ he added. ‘She loved spending time with everyone and obviously when we found out it was here it really hit home a lot.
‘She was a lovely person, two lovely kids. Obviously everyone is still shocked and piecing together how it sort of happened.’
The little boy saved by Ms Bryant was taken to Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital with serious injuries to his arm.