School crash treated as a tragic accident
Early police investigations into the school accident that left two eight-year-old boys dead has made key findings.
Police are treating a horrific accident in which a 52-year-old woman allegedly ploughed a Toyota Kluger into a school classroom, killing two eight-year-old boys and injuring three children, as a tragic case of driver error.
The Australian understands police’s initial investigations have found no evidence that mechanical or medical factors contributed to the crash, which occurred yesterday morning at the Banksia Road Primary School.
Maha Al-Shennag, who is believed to have children at the school, was charged with two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death and one count of negligent driving.
Crash scene investigators are working to establish the cause of the accident, however The Australian understands there are no indications drugs or alcohol played a role.
One source described Ms Al-Shennag as ‘’devastated’’.
Earlier today NSW Education Department head Mark Scott said a decision to keep Banksia Road Public School open for the few remaining weeks of the term year was taken in consultation with the principal and school community to help the “healing process”
At a media conference outside the department’s headquarters in Sydney’s CBD, Mr Scott said that 88 children out of a total of 570 at the school had turned up for classes today.
“One of my initial instincts yesterday was whether we needed to close the school down for the few weeks left in term,” he said.
“And the view of the principal and the strong view of the community was that the school is so vital as part of the healing process here.
“That’s where the students are going to want to come, that’s where community members are going to want to come, and so that’s the structure we are setting up for support in the coming weeks.”
Mr Scott also today confirmed that the building structure hit by the car had been on the school site since the 1960s. He said it was made of wood, and one commonly found at schools around the state.
He said the Education Department would await the advice of a coroner before deciding on any statewide audit of the safety of school buildings and the possible risk of external hazards.
He said parking was provided at schools around the state. While making no judgment until the completion of a police investigation and coroner’s report, he hinted at the freakish nature of the incident in which a vehicle could crash through a classroom building and cause such tragedy.
“In our experience we don’t recall any incidents like this around the state. but we will take specialist advice and review that advice carefully,” he said.
Standing with Mr Scott, Education Minister Rob Stokes said that the school had undergone a maintenance inspection earlier this year which had found no structural issues or other risks involving buildings on the site.
Mr Stokes confirmed that one small piece of bonded asbestos - used in past years for fireproofing but later sealed with a disused chimney - had been disturbed in the incident yesterday.
But the minister said the piece of asbestos was removed after yesterday’s incident. There was no health danger detected with the installation of air monitoring.
Mr Stokes praised the dedication of teachers at the school, and stressed that only one staff member out of 54 was absent today.
“I think that statistic powerfully indicates the passion and the commitment that these teachers have, to the students and the parents it is their job to serve at Banksia Road Public School,” Mr Stokes said.
“I can see no greater example of the love and compassion and commitment that those teachers have for their students. That despite the loss and grief they are going through today, they have turned up to serve.”
Mr Stokes said three young children remained in hospital after the incident, and the families of two boys killed were suffering “incredible grief”.
Besides almost all teachers turning up for duty today, an additional 40 arrived from nearby schools to provide support.
Mr Scott said two counselling teams were on site as well, one of which had specialist expertise in dealing with children who had undergone traumatic experiences.
Teachers ‘turn up to serve’
The primary school in Sydney’s west that was the scene of carnage when two children were killed and 12 others seriously injured after a car crashed into their classroom yesterday has re-opened but the majority of students have stayed home.
NSW Education Department head Mark Scott said a decision to keep Banksia Road Public School open for the few remaining weeks of the term year was taken in consultation with the principal and school community to help the “healing process”
At a media conference outside the department’s headquarters in Sydney’s CBD, Mr Scott said that 88 children out of a total of 570 at the school had turned up for classes today.
“One of my initial instincts yesterday was whether we needed to close the school down for the few weeks left in term,” he said. “And the view of the principal and the strong view of the community was that the school is so vital as part of the healing process here.
“That’s where the students are going to want to come, that’s where community members are going to want to come, and so that’s the structure we are setting up for support in the coming weeks.”
Mr Scott also confirmed that the building structure hit by the car had been on the school site since the 1960s. He said it was made of wood, and one commonly found at schools around the state. He said the Education Department would await the advice of a coroner before deciding on any statewide audit of the safety of school buildings and the possible risk of external hazards.
He said parking was provided at schools around the state. While making no judgment until the completion of a police investigation and coroner’s report, he hinted at the freakish nature of the incident in which a vehicle could crash through a classroom building and cause such tragedy.
“In our experience we don’t recall any incidents like this around the state. but we will take specialist advice and review that advice carefully,” he said.
Standing with Mr Scott, Education Minister Rob Stokes said that the school had undergone a maintenance inspection earlier this year which had found no structural issues or other risks involving buildings on the site. Mr Stokes confirmed that one small piece of bonded asbestos — used in past years for fireproofing but later sealed with a disused chimney — had been disturbed in the incident yesterday.
But the minister said the piece of asbestos was removed after yesterday’s incident. There was no health danger detected with the installation of air monitoring.
Mr Stokes praised the dedication of teachers at the school, and stressed that only one staff member out of 54 was absent today.
“I think that statistic powerfully indicates the passion and the commitment that these teachers have, to the students and the parents it is their job to serve at Banksia Road Public School,” Mr Stokes said.
“I can see no greater example of the love and compassion and commitment that those teachers have for their students. That despite the loss and grief they are going through today, they have turned up to serve.”
Mr Stokes said three young children remained in hospital after the incident, and the families of two boys killed were suffering “incredible grief”.
Besides almost all teachers turning up for duty today, an additional 40 arrived from nearby schools to provide support.
Mr Scott said two counselling teams were on site as well, one of which had specialist expertise in dealing with children who had undergone traumatic experiences.
Floral tribute grows
Brightly coloured flowers, glowsticks and balloons have been attached to the entrance of the Greenacre school. A girl, clinging to the legs of her father, placed a bunch of flowers among the bouquets, balloons and messages of condolence that have accumulated at the school gates following the tragedy.
“May Allah bless you, both will be missed always,” one message said. “A good heart has stopped beating, a good soul has ascended to heaven,” said another.
Inside the gates, a police car stood in an almost empty car park while a security guard stopped other vehicles trying to enter.
The 52-year-old woman driver of the SUV at the centre of the tragedy has asked for forgiveness through her lawyer. Nick Hanna told The Daily Telegraph she was “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,” Mr Hanna said.
The boys, both aged eight, were pinned after the car smashed through the wall of the weatherboard classroom where 24 pupils were taking lessons.
Police last night charged Maha Al-Shennag — a widowed mother of four — with two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death and negligent driving. She is due to front Bankstown Local Court on November 29.
Father of three, Steve Sleiman spoke to reporters as he walked his year-three son, Joe to the front gate this morning. “We’re pretty sad. Very sad actually. We just pray for those children and those parents”.
Mr Sleiman, who was at the school yesterday described the chaos that ensued as worried parents hoped for news of their children. “We were shocked very shocked. We didn’t know what was going on inside, we were crying”.
Mr Sleiman said his young children struggled to sleep last night, however his young daughter Christel, who is due to start at Banksia Road Public School next year said she was proud to have slept in her own bed.
The Year 3s inside the classroom were drawing pirates when the car smashed through the wall and their world exploded.
A vigil was held last night as the school community struggled to come to terms with the tragedy. Staff said on the school’s Facebook page, it will be open with support from counsellors for any student who wishes to attend.
Within minutes of what emergency services described as a “scene of carnage”, terrified parents descended on the school in Greenacre, in southwestern Sydney, seeking news of their children. For nine-year-old Hayam Malkawi, a snap decision to sit at the back of the class, rather than in her usual position at the front, might have saved her life.
“We were drawing pirates and the whole class fell at once. My friends cut their faces,” she told The Australian.
“Usually I would sit at the front of the class where the car crashed but this time I was at the back.”
Hayam, who scratched her leg in the crash, said that she felt frozen as debris from the roof caved in on their heads.
“My teacher had to carry me to the sick bay because I couldn’t walk,” she said.
It was about 9.45am on a clear Melbourne Cup day when the car crashed into the class of 24 students. About 12 ambulances were sent to the school as reports of the injured rolled in. Five of the young students were rushed to hospital and more than a dozen others injured.
Two boys could not be saved and died after being carried away by paramedics. The boys had been seated together when the car burst through the wall.
Khalid Arnaout lives in a Greenacre home overlooking the school. “The car had crashed into the building and the kids were crying, with blood all over them,” he said.
“One of the kids was under the car and adrenaline just kicked in.
“Everyone picked up a corner of the car and got the kid out and we took the kids to the office.
“Everyone was injured, whether mentally or physically. We categorised the kids in order of priority, (the) seriousness of their injuries. The two boys who died were together.
“The ambulance and police came in about 12 minutes.”
NSW Ambulance superintendent Stephanie Radnidge said paramedics arrived to find “distressed and overwhelmed children and teachers”. She described the overall incident as “pandemonium”.
“It is very, very hard because we are parents ourselves, we are human beings,” Ms Radnidge said. “But we are highly trained and the best care was delivered this morning to those injured at this site.”
News of the crash quickly turned into panic and grief among parents and relatives.
“My niece was in the classroom,” one woman wrote on social media.
“She’s alive hamdellah, but needs surgery.”
A nine-year-old girl was in a critical condition at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead yesterday while two eight-year-old girls were at the same hospital in a stable condition.
A friend of the two boys who died posted a tribute to a community group yesterday.
“We are all shocked, we are all in tears,” Rima Waizai wrote.
“These sweet children woke up today, happy to go to school and be with their friends, mothers and fathers dressed them, packed their lunches and drove them to school, giving them their last goodbye kiss not knowing about a tragedy that was coming their way.”
Mohammad Sabine, whose eight-year-old son was in the classroom, said the crash was like a “bomb explosion”.
“He told us that a car smashed into his class and it felt like a bomb explosion,” Mr Sabine said.
“Three of his classmates were severely injured.
“There was blood everywhere and they even had to get the paramedics to smash one of the walls to get into the class.”
NSW Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said police were investigating what led to the crash.
It is understood these inquiries include whether the driver was distracted.
“Obviously this is a very, very tragic event,” Mr Smith said yesterday.
“What we’re looking at this stage is that — we’re not looking at this as an intentional act. This is a horrific, you know, this is a horrific incident for all. Obviously we have all worked together to resolve this incident. It is ongoing and we’ll be here for some time to unravel this dreadful event.”
Lakemba state MP Jihad Dib said he was devastated by the news. “The school is a huge part of this community,” he said. “I am absolutely devastated and it’s come as a huge shock. You don’t expect to drop your kids off at school and not have them come home.”
More than 100 parents and friends held a vigil at the school last night. A notice on the school’s Facebook page last night said school would resume today for those who wished to attend.
The 4WD was pulled from the wrecked classroom yesterday afternoon just as the final school bell for the day rang out.
With SAM BUCKINGHAM-JONES
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