<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>332035</docID> <postdate>2024-10-30 12:04:06</postdate> <headline>Jack Davey, 11, named as boy killed in schoolyard crash</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-332095" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241030164338648912-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>Jack Davey, 11, was critically injured and died on the way to hospital. (Supplied by Auburn South Primary School/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <b>Rachael Ward </b>and<b> Callum Godde</b> in Melbourne</span></p> <p>A boy killed in a school crash tragedy has been identified as 11-year-old grade five student Jack Davey.</p> <p>Photos made public by his family less than a day after his death show the Auburn South pupil smiling in his school uniform and holding a puppy.</p> <p>He was critically injured and died on the way to hospital after a car ploughed through a fence and into a school yard on Tuesday afternoon, hitting a group of children sitting at a table.</p> <p>Two 11-year-old girls, a 10-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy were seriously injured and taken to hospital.</p> <p>The driver, a 40-year-old woman, had just collected her child from the school in Melbourne's east and attempted a U-turn when the crash happened.</p> <p>The Hawthorn East mother was arrested and interviewed by detectives. No charges were laid and she was released overnight pending further inquiries.</p> <p>She and the child in the car were not injured.</p> <p>Auburn South Principal Marcus Wicher said remarkable courage has been shown following the crash, with focus now on the ongoing welfare of staff and students.</p> <p>"This school community is so wonderful and strong, together we will get through this," Mr Wicher told reporters.</p> <p>The response from the local community has been overwhelming, he said, thanking everyone who reached out with generous offers of support.</p> <p>"I want to thank and acknowledge my wonderful staff and those parents who helped yesterday, including providing comfort to our children.</p> <p>"The courage and care can only be described as remarkable."</p> <p>The school was open on Wednesday and extra support services on hand.</p> <p><img class=" wp-image-332036" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241029199437131043-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="749" height="499" /></p> <caption>Police are investigating a car crash that killed a boy and left four other children in hospital. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p>Premier Jacinta Allan, who has a son in grade five, said her stomach lurched when she heard about the accident.</p> <p>"Everyone would have had the same reaction," she said.</p> <p>"For those of us who have done the school drop off and pick up, you would also feel this quite acutely."</p> <p>The premier encouraged those struggling in the wider community to use support services on offer.</p> <p>Ms Allan and Education Minister Ben Carroll spoke to the school's principal on Tuesday night after he had spoken to Jack's mother.</p> <p>"It was a really tough conversation for the principal," the premier said.</p> <p>"He relayed to Ben and I just how strong the family is in the toughest of times."</p> <p>Mr Carroll and education department secretary Jenny Atta visited the school on Wednesday morning.</p> <p>An extra 25 teachers from neighbouring schools are on site to support their colleagues, along with pastoral and counselling services.</p> <p>"This will be difficult days, weeks, months ahead," Mr Carroll said.</p> <p>Dozens of families walked hand in hand with children to morning drop off, with parents congregating in the schoolyard as young students made their way to class.</p> <p>Others heading to the school carried flowers and biscuits, a floral tribute growing to more than a dozen bunches left just metres away from the crash site.</p> <p>A temporary cover blocks off where the car slammed through the school fence, a grassy area next to the oval underneath a gum tree and a sailcloth.</p> <p>Detectives worked into the evening to investigate the circumstances of the crash, which Inspector Craig McEvoy said appeared to be a "tragic accident".</p> <p>"It's really tough for everybody involved, from the community, the school community, the locals, the first responders, ambulances and police," he said on Tuesday.</p> <p>"These events are always hard where there's death and serious injury, but especially difficult when there's children involved."</p> <p>The car had a green P-plate, but Insp McEvoy said he was not certain of the woman's licence status.</p> </body>