A community is in shock after a 52-year-old woman crashed her 4WD into a Greenacre primary school in southwest Sydney.
Two eight-year-old boys died after being critically injured in the incident. A nine-year-old girl is in a severe condition following the crash which also saw another two eight-year-old girls injured but stable.
The woman, who was reportedly distracted by something outside the vehicle, crashed her car almost entirely into the Banksia Road Primary School demountable. It is believed there were 17 children and one adult teacher in the classroom at the time.
Police charged the woman with two counts of dangerous driving. She was uninjured following the crash.
The scene from above. Image: Seven news
Four men who saw the event unfolding ran to help and managed to lift the SUV off a boy who was pinned underneath.
Speaking to ABC News one of the men, (who wishes to remain anonymous) said:
“I heard a big bang from across the road, so I went over and I heard some kids screaming and crying.”
“I saw the car had crashed into the classroom. There were kids and debris and blood everywhere.”
The boy who the freed from under the car shared these heartbreaking last words before he was taken to hospital, “I want my Mum.”
It is an unimaginable tragedy.
Below is a statement released by the school.
The woman charged with the incident is said to be deeply remorseful and was heard to be screaming, “Help! I’m sorry,” immediately following the crash.
The woman’s lawyer has told the press that she is “deeply sorry for the loss and hurt suffered by the children, the school, the families and the community. Her thoughts and prayers are with all those affected.”
