Driver of car that crashed into primary school had suffered a medical episode, reports

There has been a major update after an SUV smashed into a Melbourne primary school, killing an 11-year-old boy.

The driver of a car that ploughed into a primary school, killing an 11-year-old boy and seriously injuring four other children, has been released from police custody.

The 40-year-old Hawthorn East woman was arrested after the tragic crash in Melbourne’s east at Auburn South Primary School on Tuesday afternoon.

Police are investigating whether the woman had a medical episode when she veered her car off Burgess Street while doing a U-turn. The Toyota SUV crashed into an outdoor table where five children were sitting at recess.

On Wednesday morning, Victoria Police said the woman had now been released from custody.

The four injured children - two 11-year-old girls, one 10-year-old girl and one 10-year-old boy - remain in hospital.

Victoria Police Inspector Craig McEvoy said the car was displaying a green P-plate, but the investigation was in its early stages.

It is not clear if the driver held a full licence.

“It appears it is a tragic accident,” he said.

The car which crashed into a primary school in Melbourne on Tuesday afternoon. NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

The driver was picking up a primary school-aged child from the school at the time. Both the driver and child in the car were uninjured.

Speaking toThe Age, a neighbour said the street was usually quiet and drivers typically stuck to the speed limit.

Police gather at the scene in Tooronga Road, Hawthorn East. Picture: NewsWire

Parents were contacted by the school and told to come and collect their children. Picture: NewsWire

However, the resident said that some parents used a median strip to perform U-turns outside the school and the street was not wide enough.

“It’s not wide enough for a full U-turn,” the neighbour said.

“There’s normally a three-point turn involved, or they pull into the driveways.”

The school issued an SMS after the accident explaining Burgess St was closed and to pick up their children, but did not indicate children had been injured.

In a statement, a Department of Education spokesman said: “Our thoughts are right now 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,” the spokesman continued.

“We will provide further information as soon as we can.”

Police have described the incident as a “tragic accident”. Picture: News Corp Australia

A parent of a child at the school told radio station 3AW on Tuesday afternoon that her son was friends with the children.

She said the children were at their third recess and had witnessed the crash, with parents still not knowing all the details.

An earlier caller, Julie, told 3AW “paramedics screamed towards (the scene) and police cars were screaming”.

“I have never seen police and ambulance screaming past so fast.”

Another parent, Lucy, told the station her son was very distressed after witnessing the crash.

“They’re all really, really shaken up,” she said.

“It’s just every person’s worst nightmare.”

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Originally published as Driver of car that crashed into primary school had suffered a medical episode, reports