Horror school crash
A schoolgirl is fighting for her life in Starship hospital and three other students are in hospital after a driver ploughed into a group at a bus stop yesterday morning.
Witnesses described hearing the cries of injured children lying in the street after the crash.
The incident happened near Westlake Girls High School on Auckland’s North Shore shortly before the school day started.
Five people, including four students from Girls High and nearby Westlake Boys High School, were injured when a car left the road and struck a group on the footpath.
One girl was critically injured and moved from Auckland City Hospital to Starship where she remained in a critical condition last night.
Three other students were stable, with one at Auckland City Hospital and two in Starship overnight.
A fifth was treated at the scene but did not need to go to hospital.
The car’s driver, who was unhurt, had been spoken to by police.
A man the Herald understands to be the driver’s brother said he had been told by police not to speak to media, but said his brother was doing okay given the circumstances.
“I am praying for them right now,” he said of the injured students.
North Shore resident Anna Grygorenko was caught in traffic on Wairau Rd when she drove into the rush-hour nightmare about 8.30am.
“There were lots of people and debris on the side of the road.
“I was driving past at the time and it must have just happened as no paramedics or police were on the scene yet,” Grygorenko said.
“I lowered my window to listen for an ambulance siren but instead I heard wailing from the victims.”
Those mowed down were left spread over many metres.
One boy used a backpack as a makeshift pillow while paramedics assessed his injuries.
Other students were seen comforting each other in the midst of the ordeal while adults retrieved school gear.
Cordons remained in place on Wairau Rd on the North Shore yes- terday afternoon and the police serious crash unit was investigating.
In an email to parents, Westlake Girls principal Jane Stanley said counselling support was on offer for all students and staff.
“Our thoughts are with the students and families involved in the terrible accident outside our school this morning,” she said.
“The emergency services arrived quickly at the scene but some of our students have sustained serious injuries and they are all receiving the best possible care in hospital.
“We are providing counselling support for all our students and staff at this difficult time.
“Please respect the privacy of the families involved,” she said, adding that official media statements would be managed by the school.
“We are very grateful for the support we have received from the emergency services, the local schools and the wider community.”
Police remained at the scene yesterday afternoon.
I lowered my window to listen for an ambulance siren but instead I heard wailing from the victims. Anna Grygorenko