Child dies, others injured after being hit by car at Auburn South Primary School in Hawthorn East

A boy has died and four children have been injured after a woman crashed through a primary school fence and into a group of students in Melbourne’s east just before pick-up.

The 40-year-old driver had just collected her child at Auburn South Primary School in Hawthorn East when she performed a U-turn and crashed through the fence into a table where the five children were seated, police say.

The incident, which police described as a “tragic accident”, occurred about 2.30pm on Tuesday.

An 11-year-old boy suffered critical injuries and died while being transported to hospital, Victoria Police said.

Ambulance Victoria sent multiple advanced life support and mobile intensive care vehicles to the scene.

Two 11-year-old girls, a 10-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy were seriously injured and taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital and Monash Medical Centre.

The driver has been arrested and will be interviewed by police, Inspector Craig McEvoy said. The woman and her child were not injured.

Department of Education spokesperson told 7NEWS.com.au: “Our thoughts are right now with the entire Auburn South Primary School community.”

“We are working closely with staff, students and parents of the school to support them during this deeply distressing time.

“We will provide further information as soon as we can.”

The spokesperson told the ABC earlier that the driver was believed to have suffered a medical episode.

Education Minister Ben Carroll is monitoring the situation, while Opposition Leader and local MP John Pesutto described the incident as a “painful shock”.

Public Order Response crews remain at the scene, with the leafy street closed off as officers come and go from the area of impact.

As of 6pm, more than a dozen police officers remained at the scene working on the white vehicle which was lodged past the school’s grey steel fence in front of a picnic table.

Police will take statements from the school principal, teachers, parents and other witnesses.

‘It’s devastating’

The car had a green P-plate, but Insp McEvoy said he was not certain of the woman’s licence status.

“It appears it is a tragic accident,” he said.

Locals were left shaken by the incident, they told 7NEWS.

“It’s devastating, not just for the kids — I hope they’re okay — but for the parents, it’s the last thing they want to hear, that their child has been struck by a car,” one local man told 7NEWS.

A mother, who said her children will eventually attend the school, told 7NEWS the crash was “terrifying, far too close to home”.

“It’s a beautiful school, little kids, you just don’t think these things will happen ... I’m a bit shaken, really.

“You just wonder, do you know the families (involved)?”

Investigations are ongoing.

- with AAP