Auburn South Primary School crash: Driver freed after ‘accident’ kills 11-year-old boy and injures four others
Victoria Police have released a driver after a car crashed through a school fence, tragically killing a schoolboy and seriously injuring four others.
The tragic incident occurred at Auburn South Primary School on Tuesday afternoon when a 40-year-old driver was collecting her child from school.
The driver allegedly suffered a medical incident while attempting a U-turn, veering off the road and hitting a table on school grounds where young children were on recess.
The aftermath was described as frantic, with emergency services, locals and people from the school racing to help.
First responders raced to the school on Tooronga Rd in Hawthorn East just after 2.30pm on Tuesday.
An 11-year-old boy suffered critical injuries in the crash and died on the way to hospital.
Two 11-year-old girls, a 10-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy were seriously injured and taken to hospital.
Three of the children were taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital and two to Monash Medical Centre.
Police remained at the scene well into Wednesday morning, eventually removing a white Toyota RAV4 from the school property in the middle of the night.
The driver, from Hawthorn East, was arrested and interviewed by detectives.
However, no charges were laid and she was released overnight pending further inquiries.
The woman and child in the car were not injured.
Camera IconThe 40-year-old female driver had just picked a child up from the school when she did a U-turn and crashed through the school fence, police said. Credit: 7NEWS
Camera IconOne boy died when a table of five children at a school were hit by a car in inner-Melbourne suburb Hawthorn East on Tuesday afternoon. Credit: 7NEWS
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan told Sunrise it was a “very, very sad day”.
“If I can at the outset provide my deepest condolences to the family and the school community who are grieving the loss of a beautiful little boy today,” she said on Wednesday morning. .
“This certainly is something that is being felt right across the state by parents and families and communities right across Victoria.
“There are additional teachers and staff and counsellors that will be at the school today and also at the neighbouring high school that is right across the road.
“It is a really close, tight-knit community. There are many families in this community who will be grieving so with are providing support to the school community today.
Ms Allan would not be drawn into speculation, saying it was “too soon” and the Victoria Police needed time to do their job.
Inspector Craig McEvoy from Victoria Police said the incident appeared to be a “tragic accident”.
“It’s really tough for everybody involved, from the community, the school community, the locals, the first responders, ambulances and police,” he said.
“These events are always hard where there’s there’s death and serious injury, but especially difficult when there’s children involved.”
Camera IconVictoria Police Inspector Craig McEvoy speaks to the media. Credit: JOEL CARRETT/AAPIMAGECamera IconInvestigations are ongoing. Credit: JOEL CARRETT/AAPIMAGE
The car had a green P-plate, but Insp McEvoy said he was not certain of the woman’s licence status.
The local community has been left in mourning after the devastating events.
One mother from the school told the Herald Sun the incident was “traumatic”.
“I was notified of the incident on our parents’ WhatsApp group just before 3pm … my stomach just sank when I read the message,” she said.
“When I approached the school I could see emergency services from a distance.
“There was a lot of speculation on what had happened.
“I just gave my daughter a big hug when I saw her, everyone is just beside themselves.
“It’s a great school with amazing teachers and students and we are just praying that the injured children are OK.”
– With AAP
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