<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>332892</docID> <postdate>2024-11-12 10:13:21</postdate> <headline>‘Kind, thoughtful, funny’ woman saved kids from truck</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-332893" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241111187792174600-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="601" /></p> <caption>A woman has been killed and a child injured after a truck crashed into a small-town kindergarten. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Alex Mitchell</strong></span></p> <p><strong>A kindergarten worker who died saving her young students from an out-of-control truck has been remembered as a kind and generous person who lit up every room.</strong></p> <p>Police are investigating after a 68-year-old driver, suspected of suffering a medical episode, veered his water tanker off the road and ploughed into the pre-school's playground, north-west of Melbourne on Monday.</p> <p>Eleanor Bryant, a 43-year-old speech pathologist who worked at the kindergarten, died at the scene while a three-year-old boy was taken to the Royal Children's Hospital.</p> <p>In an emotional tribute on Tuesday, Nine's Today Show presenter Alex Cullen described his childhood friend as "a light that lit up every room and never had a bad word to say about anyone".</p> <p>"There are people in this world who you can't quite believe are so kind, so generous, so wonderful and caring," he said.</p> <p>"Eleanor Bryant, or EJ, as she was to us, was one of those people."</p> <p>He said the community was hurting after Ms Bryant's death.</p> <p>"It does not surprise me one bit that Eleanor pushed those school kids out of the way yesterday to ultimately save their lives, she always, always put others first and was a great example to all of us," he said.</p> <p>"We will miss you, Eleanor and thank you for everything you gave us."</p> <p>She was an accomplished speech pathologist who grew up in Coonamble in central-western NSW and leaves behind a husband, 11-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter.</p> <p>A boy hurt in the accident was treated for an arm injury which ambulance officials said was not life-threatening.</p> <p>The truck driver was also taken to hospital and is helping police with the investigation.</p> <p>Detective Senior Sergeant Christian Von Tunk said initial investigations led them to believe the truck lost control on a bridge about 120 metres from the Macedon Ranges Montessori Preschool pre-school in Riddells Creek.</p> <p>"It's a tragic set of circumstances which actually could have been a lot worse," he said on Monday.</p> <p>"This is one of those close calls and I don't know how only one person has died."</p> <p>The local basketball club also paid tribute to their equipment and uniform co-ordinator.</p> <p>"Riddells Creek Basketball Club are devastated to learn of the passing of one of our own," the club's Facebook  post read.</p> <p>"Eleanor was the most kind, thoughtful and funny friend.</p> <p>"She gave generously to her community and was committed to supporting the RCR kids to get onto the court. Most importantly, Eleanor was an amazing mum and wife."</p> <p>McKenzie Water owner Alan McKenzie confirmed the truck belonged to his company.</p> <p>"Our experienced 68-year-old driver is understood to have suffered a medical episode and remains in hospital... we are doing what we can to support him and his family," he said.</p> <p>Macedon Ranges Shire Council CEO Bernie O'Sullivan offered his deepest condolences.</p> <p>"Our immediate priority is to support those affected and our broader communities – particularly those in Riddells Creek – however we practically can," he said.</p> <p>The crash comes less than two weeks after 11-year-old Jack Davey was killed and four other students injured after an SUV crashed through a fence at Auburn South Primary School in Melbourne's east.</p> </body>