The headteacher of a primary school in Australia has called the death of an 11-year-old boy in a car crash a “complete tragedy”.
The car veered off a road in the suburb of Hawthorn East, Melbourne, and crashed through a fence into an outdoor table where five children were sitting just after 2.30pm local time on Tuesday.
Jack Davey, 11, was taken to hospital with critical injuries but later died.
Two girls aged 11, a 10-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy were also seriously hurt and taken to hospital, Victoria Police said.
Marcus Wicher, headteacher at Auburn South Primary School, said the crash could “only be described as a complete tragedy”.
He added: “Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with Jack’s family and friends, and our thoughts are also with the four students who remain in hospital.”
The driver of the car, a 40-year-old woman, crashed into the fence while making a U-turn after collecting a child from the school.
She was arrested at the scene and has since been released pending further enquiries. The child passenger in the car was not injured.
Speaking about the crash, Victoria’s premier Jacinta Allan said “a dark shadow has been cast over our city and state”.
She added: “I know tonight Victorians will be thinking of Auburn South Primary, and holding our kids even closer.”
Meanwhile, headteacher Mr Wicher also praised the emergency services who responded to the crash, along with staff and parents.
He said: “The response from our local community has been overwhelming and I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has reached out with such generous offers of support.”
“This school community is so wonderful and strong, and together we will get through this,” he added.
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“It appears it is a tragic accident,” Detective Inspector Craig McEvoy, from the police’s major collision investigation unit, said.
Video footage from the scene showed the car with damage on its front left side.
Police are investigating the exact circumstances of what happened.
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