Family of Emily Bryant pays tribute to the teacher aide killed in crash

ABC NEWS (Australia)

A woman who died while saving children when a truck crashed into a Victorian preschool is being celebrated as a hero. Eleanor Bryant was today remembered by her family for her infectious smile, sense of humour and passion for life.

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00:00In the moments before a truck ploughed into a pre-school, Eleanor Bryant acted instinctively,

00:08losing her own life to save others.

00:11She acted heroically and moved a number of young children out of the way of the vehicle.

00:18So brave, just so brave.

00:21She's a hero.

00:23She is a hero, that woman.

00:25God bless her.

00:26God bless her.

00:28The 43-year-old from Sunbury in Melbourne's west was a teacher's aide at the pre-school,

00:34her grieving family calling her the light of their lives and struggling to come to terms

00:39with how much they'll miss her.

00:42Just after two o'clock yesterday, a truck careened into the Macedon Ranges Montessori

00:47pre-school, fatally striking Eleanor Bryant and injuring a three-year-old boy.

00:53He's still at the Royal Children's Hospital in a stable condition.

00:57It comes just a week after a car ploughed into a primary school in Melbourne's inner

01:02east, killing an 11-year-old boy.

01:05Today, tributes laid at the crash site as councillors are sent in for another community

01:11grieving.

01:13It's sort of, I suppose, all hands on deck in making sure that we get the right support

01:17to the community and the families when they need it.

01:22We're a close-knit community, we're small, but big hearts, and it's going to affect the

01:30whole community for a while.

01:32The driver of the water tanker, a 68-year-old man, also remains in hospital.

01:38His employer released a statement yesterday saying it was understood he suffered a medical

01:43episode, but police are still investigating the cause of this tragic event.

01:49Councillors say they've blood-tested the driver, but are yet to interview him.

01:53We're not going to rule anything in, and we're not going to rule anything out at this stage.

01:57Coming to groups with another school tragedy.

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