Sydney community mourns two young boys killed in school crash tragedy
A floral tribute is growing outside Banksia Road Primary School in Sydney's southwest as the community mourns the death of two young boys killed in a tragic accident.
Three other students remain in hospital as they are treated for injuries suffered when a car crashed into their classroom on Tuesday morning.
The Greenacre community turned out to pay tribute at the school where an 4WD ploughed into the 3T classroom, filled with students aged seven to 11.
Two eight-year-old boys lost their lives at hospital where three girls are being treated for their injuries.
On Tuesday night hundreds of families and their children turned arrived at the school to pay tribute to the children and their families.
“Everyone is sad,” said one community member where hundreds of flowers were being laid.
“Sad for the two boys that lost their lives, for the parents. We know they’re going to fly to home to heaven – but the parents.”
Another woman said, “The boys are our family. Everyone that goes to the school is our family.”
Witnesses reveal heartbreaking scenes after Sydney school crash
Pictured: Girl, 13, injured in hit-and-run amid fears driver could flee the country
Member of Lakemba Jihad Dib said the touching display “sums up our community’s about”.
“In this really tough time, we’ll stick together and we’ll help everyone through it,” the MP said.
A lawyer for the driver of the car, 52-year-old Maha Al-Shennag, said in a statement she is “deeply sorry for the loss suffered by the children, the school and the families and the community”.
The driver has been charged with four counts, including dangerous driving and negligent driving causing death.
It’s believed she was distracted by something in the car when the crash occurred.
She has had her licence suspended and has been released on bail, due to appear in court later this month.
Among those who rushed into help in the freak accident were three tradesmen who lifted the car off one of the boys and immediately began performing CPR.
One of the tradesmen shied away from cameras when approached for comment.
Many of the emergency service members who attended the horrific scene were young and overcome by the trauma of their first major incident.
NSW Ambulance Assistant Commissioner Peter Payne said even for professionals it was particularly hard to attend incidents involving children.
“Incidents involving children are probably the most difficult ones that paramedics have to confront,” he told 7 News.
