Dozens of girls rushed to hospital after school bus slams into truck and flips off motorway during class trip

DOZENS of students have been rushed to hospital after a bus slammed into a truck and flipped off a motorway during a school trip. The bus carrying 27 schoolgirls, four adults and the driver plunged 50 metres down a hill in the horror crash outside Melbourne in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Nine NewsAll 32 people on board were rushed to hospital after the horror crash[/caption] Nine NewsHarrowing pictures show the students’ suitcases and belongings strewn across the hill[/caption] It’s understood the students were on their way to Melbourne airport to fly to the United States and visit the NASA space camp at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. All 32 people on board were rushed to hospital, with one teenage girl said to be fighting for her life after being airlifted from the scene. Harrowing pictures show the students’ suitcases and belongings strewn across the hill as emergency services work at the crash site. Cops have urged parents to stay away and call the local police station for the latest updates, 9News reports. Read more on Australia MARK DAY Australia is mourning our Queen - we respect her remarkable life of service BIG MOVE Peter Andre reveals shock plan to move to Australia amid mum's health struggles The Melbourne-bound lanes of the motorway are expected to remain shut for several hours and motorists are urged to avoid the area. Cops are investigating the cause of the crash and witnesses have been asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. It comes days after 19 schoolkids were killed after a lorry smashed into a minibus on a South African highway. The tragedy happened in the Pongola area – around 300 kilometres north of Durban – on Friday afternoon. Most read in News PIERS MORGAN Britain was turning to s**t - the Queen dying reminded us what made it great TAKE A SEAT Palace reveals why Harry sat in second row for Queen’s funeral - not by Wills ROYAL LINE Queen 'excitedly took Harry's US calls' but became 'perplexed by complaints' HOME TIME Meghan and Harry will 'fly back to the US to be with kids as soon as possible' THAWING OUT Cold snap to come to an end as clouds & rain replaced with 22C clear skies SENT HER VICTORIOUS Grandeur and emotion as we say farewell to our beloved Queen Horrifying dashcam footage showed the moment the lorry overtook another truck on the two-lane highway before ploughing into the minibus full of schoolkids. According to local media reports, the minibus tried to swerve out of the way of the oncoming lorry before it was crushed by the vehicle. Authorities said 19 children – aged between five and 12 – died in the crash, along with three adults. The kids were said to have been on their way home from school at the time. The lorry driver fled the scene, but cops arrested him on Saturday after he handed himself in. Read More on The Sun out of line Watch the moment Holly and Phil ‘jump the HUGE queue to see the Queen’s coffin’ FAMILY TIES William & Harry have a 'forgotten' stepsister & she was at the Queen's funeral Regional transport minister Sipho Hlomuka said: “The death of so many young lives is a serious tragedy.” South Africa’s roads are among the most developed on the continent – but safety remains an issue with most accidents blamed on reckless driving.