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A tragic car crash at a Greenacre primary school in Sydney’s south-west yesterday that claimed the lives of two eight-year-old boys could now prove to be a major health hazard for the other students after deadly asbestos was found in the smashed classroom.
There are now new fears for the 22 other students in the class, as well as teachers, parents and first respondents after officials identified the presence of the poisonous material.
A spokesperson for New South Wales Education confirmed, stating: ‘Asbestos-containing materials have been identified in the building.’
Maha Al-Shennag, a 52-year-old mother-of-four, was the driver behind the car that slammed into the demountable classroom where 24 kids were drawing at around 9:45am on Tuesday.
Two eight-year-old boys were found by first responders among the blood and chaos, and were rushed to Westmead Hospital. Both passed away due to cardiac arrest.
Khaled Arnaout, one of the brave first responders, revealed one of the young victim’s kept asking for his mother.
‘He kept asking where his mum was,’ Arnaot told. ‘I said, ‘Your mum will come for you shortly.”
Emergency services and law enforcement have been working tirelessly at the scene to investigate the cause of the crash and determine the extent of the presence of asbestos.
‘The removal of any asbestos that may have been disturbed in the damaged building will be managed in compliance with SafeWork NSW requirements,’ the spokesman said.
‘The Department’s first priority is to the students and staff of Banksia Road Public School, and we are currently focused on supporting them.’
Breathing in poisonous asbestos can cause mesothelioma and lung cancer.
NSW Police charged the 52-year-old with two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death and suspended her licence on Tuesday night.
They have reportedly ruled out any suggestion the woman was suffering from a medical episode and instead will allege she was distracted by something in her car that led to the incident.
She will face Bankstown Local Court on Wednesday.
This article originally appeared on New Idea.
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