A community is in mourning after a car crashed into a fence, killing a schoolboy and seriously injuring four other children.
A 40-year-old woman had just picked up her son from Auburn South Primary School in Melbourne’s east on Tuesday when the incident occurred.
While attempting to make a U-turn, the car crashed into the school fence and into a group of children sitting at a table.
An 11-year-old boy suffered serious injuries in the accident 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.
The driver, from Hawthorn East, was arrested and questioned by detectives.
However, no charges were laid and she was released overnight pending further investigations.
The woman and child in the car were not injured.
Detectives worked into the night to investigate the circumstances of the crash, which Inspector Craig McEvoy said appeared to be a “tragic accident”.
An 11-year-old boy died when a car hit the table where five children were sitting at a school
It is understood the driver suffered a medical issue before crashing through the fence at Auburn South Primary School on Tooronga Road on Tuesday afternoon.
“It’s really difficult for everyone involved, from the community, the school community, the locals, the first responders, the ambulances and the police,” he said.
“These events are always difficult when there are deaths and serious injuries, but especially difficult when children are involved.”
The car had a green P plate, but Inspector McEvoy said he was unsure of the woman’s license status.
Prime Minister Jacinta Allan expressed her condolences and said the incident cast a “dark shadow”, while opposition leader and local MP John Pesutto said it was a “painful shock”.