In a tragic incident in Ocean Grove, a three-year-old toddler was fatally struck by a car that suddenly accelerated out of a library car park onto Presidents Avenue, just before 5pm yesterday. Local residents described the situation as a “catastrophe,” emphasising the shock that has enveloped the community.
Tracey Pinnow, a local, expressed deep sorrow, likening the event to an earthquake’s silent devastation. “All we can think about are the parents who, enjoying an afternoon walk back from the shops, are now facing unimaginable grief,” she lamented. Her husband, Andrew, echoed this disbelief, noting the rarity of such events in their close-knit seaside community, where children are often seen walking about.
In the aftermath of the incident, families gathered at the scene to lay floral tributes, mourning the loss of the young child. Tracey observed that wherever they went to purchase flowers, tears were prevalent, with people struggling to comprehend how such a tragic event could unfold so quickly.
The alleged driver, a 71-year-old woman from Ocean Grove, has been arrested and taken to hospital for mandatory blood and alcohol testing as part of the standard procedure in such circumstances. Following extensive questioning by authorities, she has since been released while investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
As the community grieves, the focus remains on the impact of this tragedy on the child’s family and the local residents who are struggling to make sense of the event. The police investigation is ongoing, aiming to uncover what led to this devastating accident in their quiet town.