Eight people injured in Pakenham car crash

THE man accused of mowing down a woman and seven children outside a Pakenham school has been arrested and charged with more than 40 offences.

THE man accused of mowing down a woman and seven children outside a Pakenham school was on Monday arrested and charged with more than 40 offences.

Victoria Police spokeswoman Belinda Batty said the 21-year-old Pakenham man was charged with 41 offences including theft of a motor vehicle, speeding in a dangerous manner, reckless conduct causing serious injury, unlicensed driving and failing to render assistance.

Eight people, including seven children, have been hurt in a hit-run. Picture: Nine News

In an out-of-sessions hearing on Monday night, the man was remanded to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

It’s understood the man was known to police.

The father of a girl in the group confronted the accused driver as police were presenting him at Pakenham police station for the hearing.

“She’s only five years old, what if you hit her? Or killed her?” the father said.

A man abandoned his ute after hitting a traffic light and eight pedestrians. Picture: Ten News

Police arrested the accused runaway driver on Monday afternoon at his family home, less than 24 hours after he allegedly fled the scene when his car struck a traffic light and pedestrians at a crossing on Cardinia Road just after 3.30pm.

A Pakenham mother told of her horror after the stolen car ploughed through the pedestrian crossing and crashed into her and seven children — including her two young daughters — during school pick-up on Friday afternoon.

Michelle Nash, 35, who was left with a dozen broken bones in her back, shoulders and ribs, said it was a miracle no one was killed by the “scumbag” driver.

Michelle Nash was left with dozens of broken bones when a car smashed into her and seven children. Picture: Tony Gough

Michelle Nash, 35, who was left with a dozen broken bones in her back, shoulders and ribs, said it was a miracle no one was killed by the “scumbag” driver.

Ms Nash had just picked up her two daughters, Tayla and Chelsey, from St Claire’s Primary School and was waiting to cross the road at the intersection of Princes Highway and Cardinia Rd when she saw the ute careering towards them.

“I just saw it out of the corner of my eye, but there was no time to get out of the way,” she said.

The next thing she remembered was the screams of the children and not being able to move, she said.

“All I could think about was the children … I could hear them screaming hysterically but I couldn’t lift my head to see them,” she said.

Michelle Nash is recovering in a rehabilitation facility with the comfort of her partner Brad Nash. Picture: Tony Gough

Seven children from the Pakenham school were scattered across the intersection with cuts and bruises.

Tayla, 9, was among the most seriously injured and was taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital. She has since been dischar­ged but was suffering nightmares, Ms Nash said.

Her husband Brad was just 100m away with the couple’s son when he heard the commotion. “The hatred I have for that man I can’t put into words,” he said.