Horror as car crashes into primary school

Multiple children have been injured, one seriously, after a car crashed into a primary school in Melbourne’s inner east.

Emergency services were called to Auburn South Primary School on Tooronga Rd in Hawthorn East on Tuesday afternoon after 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 shortly after 2.30pm.

“One child has been taken to hospital in a critical condition and four others have been transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries,” police said.

“The female driver of the vehicle has been arrested and will be interviewed.

“The exact cause of the incident is being investigated.

“Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives are en route to the scene.”

The school issued an SMS that afternoon explaining there was a closure on Burgess St and to pick up their children, but did not indicate children had been injured.

It’s understood the children were on an afternoon recess break when the car struck them.

Multiple emergency services are responding to the incident.

In an earlier statement, Ambulance Victoria said it was responding to reports of a collision in Hawthorn East.

“Our priority right now is our patients and we do not have confirmed information from the scene at this early stage,’ they said.

“We will provide information when it becomes available.

“Thank you for your patience and understanding.”

A parent of a child at the school told 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 did not know 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 past.”

More to come.