<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A school bus driver has described slowing down and preparing to turn for more than 100 metres before a truck smashed into the vehicle, seriously injuring several children.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Graham Stanley is giving evidence in the Victorian Supreme Court as truck driver Jamie Gleeson stands trial on seven counts of dangerous driving.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's alleged Gleeson, 51, failed to maintain a proper distance from the bus or pay sufficient attention before the collision on the afternoon of May 16, 2023.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/school-bus-crash-accused-not-the-villain-jury-told/87a05850-2fb9-469a-a2ce-6e9ddceb6e0a" rel="" target="" title="School bus crash accused 'not the villain', jury told"><strong><span>School bus crash accused 'not the villain', jury told</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Seven students were seriously injured in the crash that happened 900 metres from Exford Primary School, west of Melbourne.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Stanley yesterday told the court he began tapping on the brake pedal, activating the retarder system, about 100 metres before the crash.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was unaware if the brake lights remained on throughout the entire slowing down period but he maintained his right-turn indicator was also on at the same time.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/primary-school-bus-driver-describes-moment-of-crash/444ac69c-804d-4277-b8cc-6299c85e177b" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Stanley told the jury he first noticed Gleeson's truck behind him as he began the turn and he saw two large headlights in his side mirror.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That's when I've felt and heard an impact shudder through the bus," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He described slamming his foot on the brake pedal and grabbing the handbrake, causing the bus to spin and then roll on its side.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Stanley told the jury he heard screams and the next thing he remembered was lying on the door of the bus as the vehicle had tipped on its side.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Some of the children were extracting themselves from the bus while others were still trapped with their seatbelts.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Stanley told the jury he helped carry one young boy out of the bus while other members of the public also assisted.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The bus driver admitted he could not recall whether he was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, although he was confident all of the students were wearing one.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His evidence will continue today.</span></div></div>