Jack Davey, 11, identified as child killed after car crash at school in Melbourne’s inner east
The 11-year-old boy who died after a car crashed into his primary school is being remembered by his community in the wake of the tragedy.
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The Melbourne primary school boy who died when a car crashed through the school gate has been identified as 11-year-old Jack Davey.
Emergency services were called to Auburn South Primary School on Tooronga Rd in Hawthorn East just after 2.30pm on Tuesday following reports of a crash.
Police believe the white SUV was travelling on Burgess St when it left the road and crashed into the school fence.
Jack was rushed to hospital with critical injuries, however he later died.
Three girls – two aged 11 and one aged 10 – as well as a 10-year-old boy were also taken to hospital with serious injuries.
As the school community continues to grieve, the young boy is being remembered fondly by those who knew him, including by his Glen Iris Junior Football Club where he played under 11s footy.
“Auburn South Primary School is a significant part of our Glen Iris Junior Football Club community and we are devastated and deeply saddened by yesterday’s events,” Glen Iris Junior Football Club and Gladiators Committee posted on social media on Wednesday.
“Our hearts are with the families impacted directly as well as all Auburn South Primary School students, parents, teachers and other members of our community affected by this incident.”
Jack was also a valued member of the Titans basketball community.
A GoFundMe campaign has since been set up by the club to help the Davey family during this difficult time, with a goal of raising $100,000.
“Helping to support the Davey family with costs relating to the loss of Jack and to assist them to have time away from work during this heartbreaking time,” the fundraiser stated.
“All funds will go directly to the immediate Davey family.
“Jack was a valued member of the Titans basketball community, Gladiators football club and keen futsal player.
“We, his basketball team and the Auburn South Primary school community, have established this fund.”
The 40-year-old female driver of the SUV was arrested and interviewed by police on Tuesday; however, she has since been released pending further inquiries.
A primary school aged child in the car at the time wasn’t injured in the crash.
Many people, including Victorian Deputy Premier Ben Carroll, were seen laying tributes outside the school on Wednesday.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said his heart was breaking for Jack’s family and those other children injured in the crash.
“We’ve just learned the identity of the young boy whose life was taken so early,” Dr Chalmers said.
“We know how much that community is hurting, that school community is hurting.
“(It’s) horrendous, a horrible accident, and we will work through the usual processes, primarily the state government but we will work through the usual processes to respond to make sure that kids can be as safe as they can be in communities like like this one.
“I’ve got little kids. I can only imagine what it was like to drop jack off to school and not pick him up, and so primarily, the focus is on people, wrapping their arms around Jack’s family, making sure that his friends are okay.
“Some of them are still in hospital as I understand it, making sure that the trauma of this incident is well managed at the school.
“So I say again, you know, to his family to his friends, his teachers, the staff at the school of people in that community in the eastern suburbs of this great city.
“You know, our hearts are breaking from him I can only imagine how horrible it is.”
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan confirmed the school would open on Wednesday to ensure students were supported, with the Premier thanking staff at the school, emergency services, and the wider Victorian community for their actions following the tragedy.
“We’ve seen the very best of Victorians, as this tragedy has touched every corner of our state, every community,” Ms Allan said.
“There has been messages of support that have come from every community and every corner of our state, and I want to thank Victorians for that.
“Speaking to the principal … they are feeling that support, they are feeling that love, and they’re going to need to continue to have that love and support over the coming days, weeks and months ahead because this will be a long journey as the school works through the aftermath and the impact of this tragedy that has hit their school on what should have been a normal Tuesday afternoon.”
Victorian Education Minister Ben Carroll called the tragedy “every parent’s worst nightmare”, adding the family of the young boy who died are “incredibly strong”.
“What I have been informed is that the family are incredibly strong that are going through this and quite remarkable given what they’re going through,” Mr Carroll said.
The school’s principal Marcus Wicher said the focus is on supporting the community following the tragedy, according to 9NEWS.
“We are entirely focused as a school community on the welfare of our students, staff and the broader school community,” Mr Wicher said.
“This school community is so wonderful and strong, and together we will get through this,” he said.
“Our focus is now on supporting our school community, our children, families, and staff.
“I request that the media respect our privacy and give us the space to grieve and to navigate this most difficult period.”
Ms Allan earlier said her “stomach just lurched” following news of the tragedy, being in parliament at the time.
“We’ve all done the school pick-up, the school drop-off, any parent of a of a child at a primary school yesterday felt particularly sick,” Ms Allan told Today on Wednesday.
“I’ve got a little boy in grade 5 and it really does bring it home about how difficult this will be today for the school community.”
However, she said the school community was “strong”.
“They’re wrapping their arms around one another and they’ve asked if the rest of us, the rest of the community, can also show our support and respect to a community. Today is going to be tough but so will tomorrow and the weeks and months ahead, so we will need to provide that support ongoing for some time.”
Ms Allan spoke with Mr Carroll and the Department of Education on Tuesday night, confirming additional staff and counselling will be provided to Auburn South Primary School as well as the neighbouring high school, as there are many families who attend both schools and have been “deeply impacted” by the incident.
Parents in the local school community can also receive support at the schools.
“Today, as I’m sure you can appreciate, the focus is on the kids, the families, the teachers and staff,” Ms Allan said.
“Can I also use this opportunity to thank our first responders, police emergency services — they’re incredibly professional, but they’re people, and they’ve been really impacted by this as well.”
Ms Allan said it was too early to be looking into additional safety measures around schools on busy roads, as police were still investigating the cause of the crash. However, she said the state would “take that advice” should Victoria Police make recommendations on additional measures following the investigation.
“We already have things like lower speed limits around schools during those school drop off and pick up times, a range of supervised school crossings and the like,” Ms Allan said.
“This was such a tragic, terrible accident.
“We’ll let Victoria Police do their work and take their advice at the end of it.”
Speaking to the media on Tuesday afternoon, Inspector Craig McEvoy said initial investigations suggested the woman had driven to the school to collect her child and crashed performing a U-turn.
He said the incident appeared to be a “tragic accident” and confirmed police were still taking statements from the scene.
“(It’s) a really tough scene, always when children are involved,” Inspector McEvoy said.
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