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An 11-year-old boy has died and four other children have been injured after a car crashed through a school fence in Melbourne's inner east.
The car's driver was arrested at the scene but released overnight pending further inquiries.
It's believed she was travelling along Burgess Street in Hawthorn East, about 7 kilometres east of Melbourne CBD, when the car left the road and crashed through a fence at Auburn South Primary School just after 2.30pm yesterday.
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The driver, a 40-year-old Hawthorn East woman, had just collected a child from the school and was performing a U-turn when the car went through the fence, hitting a table where five children were seated by the school's sports field, Inspector Craig McEvoy told media yesterday afternoon.
An 11-year-old boy was critically injured and died while being rushed to hospital.
Two 11-year-old girls, a 10-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy were all taken to hospital with serious injuries.
The driver and her child were not injured. She was arrested and taken into custody but about 1am today police announced she had been realised.
"It's tragic circumstances … really tough for everyone involved," McEvoy said yesterday.
"It's always a tough time when children are involved."
He said the state coroner was at the scene and it was too early to comment on charges.
The cause of the crash is not yet known. McEvoy said it was too early to say whether a medical episode had taken place.
Premier Jacinta Allan said it should have been an "unremarkable sunny day" at the school.
"Instead, a dark shadow has been cast over our city and state," she said, on X.
"I'm sending my love and thoughts to the students, their families and the whole school communityAnd my thanks to the first responders on the scene," she said.
"I know tonight Victorians will be thinking of Auburn South Primary, and holding our kids even closer."
https://www.twitter.com/JacintaAllanMP/status/1851155030931620107
Auburn South Primary School parent Lucy told 3AW's Jacqui Felgate that the school was having its third recess of the day when the car crashed through the fence.
"And of course, [the students] were all out there and they actually witnessed it happen," she said between tears.
She said her son was very distressed after witnessing the crash, as were many other children.
"They're all really, really shaken up," she said.
"It's just every person's worst nightmare."
Parents have told 9News they received a message about 3pm telling them to pick up their children half an hour early.
Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives were at the scene yesterday
A white car, which had green P-plates displayed, was seen on the school's sports field beside a damaged fence.
It was unclear whether the driver held a full or provisional licence.
At least eight police cars were at the scene.
A Department of Education spokesperson said the department's thoughts were with the entire Auburn South Primary School community.
"We are working closely with staff, students and parents of the school to support them during this deeply distressing time."
Victorian Liberal leader and Hawthorn MP John Pesutto extended his condolences to the whole school community.
"The tragic incident outside Auburn South Primary School this afternoon is simply devastating," it reads.
"Auburn South Primary is an outstanding local school with a tight-knit community of students, teachers, parents and friends and this incident will come as a painful shock."
