By Alexander Darling
The woman behind the wheel of a car that crashed into a primary school, killing an 11-year-old boy, has now been charged.
The car veered off Burgess Street in Hawthorn East, through a fence and into the playground area of Auburn South Primary School on October 29 last year just after 2.30pm.
Jack Davey, 11, died when a car ploughed into Auburn South Primary last October.Credit: Instagram
Student Jack Davey, 11, died on his way to hospital, while four other children were seriously injured.
The woman, from Hawthorn East, was charged on Tuesday afternoon.
Shaymaa Oun Ghazi Zuhaira has been summonsed to face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in July, on charges of careless driving and failing to have proper control of a motor vehicle.
The school’s students were having their “third recess” just before pick-up time when the crash occurred, which is why children were outside the classroom at the time.
The car crashed through a fence in Hawthorn East in October 2024.Credit: Joe Armao
The woman was arrested at the scene and released pending further inquiries.
Her passenger, a primary school-aged child, was not injured.
In the months after the crash, crowdfunding raised more than $94,000 for the school community affected by the incident.
Zuhaira’s family also released a statement offering its heartfelt condolences to Davey’s family.
“Our hearts go out to you and to every family affected by this loss,” they said.
Davey was a dedicated Melbourne Demons fan, and last Sunday, two days before Zuhaira was charged, his sisters Olivia and Charlotte were invited to run out with the team onto the MCG.
Later on Thursday, after news of the charges, Victoria’s Education Minister Ben Carroll left further messages of support with Davey’s family.
“Our thoughts are with Jack’s family and the Auburn South Primary School community as they continue to grieve their loss in last year’s devastating accident,” Carroll said.
“This was a tragic incident that shook the community, and we are making sure every person impacted at Auburn South Primary School and Auburn High School has the ongoing wellbeing support they need.”
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