An 11-year-old boy has died after a car crashed into a Melbourne school on Tuesday. Four other children were seriously injured during the incident.
a car “veered off the road and crashed through a school fence” in Hawthorn East, around 2:30pm yesterday.
The driver, a 40-year-old woman, was arrested at the scene and has since been released.
Premier Jacinta Allan said Victorians will be thinking of the impacted community and “holding our kids even closer.”
What Happened?
Emergency services were called to Auburn South Primary School in Hawthorn East after an incident during school pick-up on Tuesday.
According to police, a driver collected a child from the school before she attempted to perform a U-turn and “collided into the fence of the school”.
Victoria Police Inspector Craig McEvoy said the car “struck a table” where five children were seated.
A critically injured 11-year-old boy was taken to hospital but later died.
Three girls and one boy, all aged between 10 and 11, were also taken to hospital with serious injuries. The driver and her passenger were not injured.
Inspector McEvoy said police will review witness statements, CCTV, and dash cam footage.
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“We’ve got to go through all of that with a fine-tooth comb to understand what’s been seen and what’s been witnessed.”
Police said the car had green P-plates, but didn’t share the status of the woman’s licence.
Response
School Principal Marcus Wicher said the community’s thoughts and “heartfelt sympathy” were with the family of the Auburn South Primary student who died.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said the school will remain open for “students, staff and families”.
“If students need a little bit of normal routine in the most difficult of days [they] have that support from their school community.”
Allan called the incident a “deep and terrible tragedy” on what “should have been a normal Tuesday afternoon”.
During a press conference this morning, she thanked emergency responders and staff at the school.
“As a state, I know our hearts and minds will stay with Auburn South Primary School”.
Wicher said he was “entirely focused” on “supporting our school community, our children, families and staff.”
Police are continuing their investigations. No charges have been laid.
