<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A school bus driver says he accurately remembers a crash where seven children were seriously injured, despite revealing new details of the incident for the first time.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Graham Stanley gave the assertions in evidence today as truck driver Jamie Gleeson stands trial in the Victorian County Court 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 he crashed into the back of the vehicle on 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/man-attacked-by-shark-poar-noarlunga-south-australia/20847008-c3ac-4858-a3e3-3e6c5d3fdee4" target="_blank"><strong><span>Man in serious condition after shark attack at South Australia beach</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He denies the allegations, maintaining he was not driving dangerously.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Seven students were seriously injured in the crash 900m from Exford Primary School, west of Melbourne.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Stanley gave evidence yesterday that he began tapping on the brake pedal, activating the retarder system, about 100m before the crash.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/exford-primary-school-bus-driver-denies-misremembering-truck-crash/61f41877-d3f1-4c6c-b127-7cfc6407f1a3" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>When questioned today by Gleeson's barrister James Anderson, Stanley accepted he could not be exactly sure when he started to decelerate.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I have an actual memory of putting my foot on the brake to activate the retarder," he told the jury.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The exact location, it's hard ... I couldn't pin it."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He reiterated it was along the section of Exford Road where there was a right-hand turn lane, about 200m from the collision site.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Stanley accepted yesterday was the first time he had told police, prosecutors or a court that he used the retarder system in the lead-up to the crash.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He told the jury the system was turned on through a switch in the bus dashboard and it was activated once the brake pedal was pressed down.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It would turn off again once the driver's foot was on the accelerator, he said.</span></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/two-australia-border-force-officials-injured-in-sydney-stabbing/41c55ae0-a50a-489b-ad23-a350c6f2cb31" target="_blank"><strong><span>Manhunt under way after Border Force officials attacked</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Stanley said he usually drove with the retarder system on and it would help the vehicle slow down more smoothly.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He told the jury he had not mentioned the retarder system prior to the trial because he had not been directly asked about it.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I've only ever been asked when I put the foot on the brake," he said in evidence.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This time I thought I have to elaborate because it wasn't one solid brake application."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Stanley denied Anderson's suggestion he did not apply the retarder system before the crash and instead he was misremembering the incident.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Gleeson told police he did not see the brake lights or indicator of the bus until the last second and it appeared as if the bus had forgotten to turn.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His truck collided into the back of the turning bus, causing the vehicle to spin and roll on its side.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The jury was told the truck skidded for about 25m before the collision and was going 67 km/h at the point of impact.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A later assessment of the truck found its brakes were faulty although Gleeson was unaware of the issues and the truck had been regularly serviced.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Gleeson did not have any drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of the crash and there was no evidence of speeding or that he used his phone before the collision.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The trial continues.</span></div></div>