Two children hit by cars outside Rouse Hill Public School before fatal Islah tragedy

Two children were struck by cars outside Rouse Hill Public School five months before student Islah lost her life in a devastating crash on October 30.

The earlier incidents both happened in May, NSW Ambulance and Police have confirmed, on Aberdour Ave, which connects to the pick-up zone outside the northwestern Sydney school.

On May 23, three ambulance units rushed to the street just after 3.30pm on reports a child had been hit by a car.

Paramedics assessed the seven-year-old boy and took him to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead with a leg injury.

Then a week later, on October 30, paramedics were again called at 3.30pm to Aberdour Ave.

A child was struck in an incident that involved them getting into their parent’s car.

Paramedics took the child, who did not suffer any injuries, to Westmead.

NSW Police told NewsWire no charges had been laid for either incident.

The two incidents precede last month’s devastating crash that took the life of five-year-old Islah.

The girl was hit by a ute outside the school about 3.45pm.

Paramedics took her in a critical condition to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, where she later died.

A member of Islah’s family said the little girl was on her way home at the time of the tragedy.

“On what was meant to be a normal afternoon after-school pick-up, our sweet girl was riding her little scooter on the footpath excited to get home when the unimaginable happened,” Jessica posted as part of a fundraising appeal for the family.

“She was hit by a car driving out of a driveway.”

The ABC reports that a Rouse Hill parent has started a petition calling for greater road safety around the school in the aftermath of the May crashes and the Islah tragedy.

The petition calls for face-to-face meetings between parents and the school around safety plans, the ABC reports, as well as permanent mirrors to cover blind spots in the area.

It also calls on Hills Shire Council to put in permanent traffic cameras at the school’s vehicle entry and exit points and traffic lights at the intersection at Adelphi St and Aberdour Ave.

Aberdour Ave is owned by Hills Shire Council, the local government area that encompasses the school and its surrounding streets.

In a statement, Hills Shire confirmed it was investigating pedestrian crossing options for Aberdour Ave.

“Council officers met with the Department of Education and Rouse Hill Public School in early June to discuss road and pedestrian issues,” a spokeswoman told NewsWire on Friday.

“This meeting was arranged prior to council being notified by NSW Police of the two previous incidents involving students crossing Aberdour Ave.

“Pedestrian crossing options for Aberdour Ave were discussed.

“Council is investigating crossing options along Aberdour Ave near the intersection of Clower Ave to serve the school and bus stops on this road.”

The spokeswoman said the community had raised traffic and parking management concerns around the school with the council.

“Rouse Hill Public School is one of the most challenging school traffic environments in The Hills Shire, which reflects the fact that it is the sixth biggest public primary school in NSW with 1198 students,” the spokeswoman said.

“Council understands that this is double the previously designated enrolment cap for the school.

“Council has provided the school with Kiss and Drop wraparounds for the poles, school parking banners and corflutes and assisted the school to get Transport for NSW to install an additional 40km/h school zone on Mile End Rd at the pedestrian signals in mid-2021.”

From last Thursday, the Department of Education started funding four traffic controllers to support the school at peak traffic times.

Devastation at Islah’s passing has spread across the community.

On the morning after the crash, a row of flowers was placed by mourners along the school’s gates.

Attorney-General Michelle Rowland, whose electorate covers Rouse Hill, said she was “deeply saddened” to hear of the tragic loss of the girl.

“My thoughts are with her family during this heartbreaking time,” she said.

The driver – a 43-year-old man – was taken to Westmead Hospital for mandatory testing after the collision.

Both the ute and the scooter have been seized for forensic examinations.

No charges in relation to the crash have been laid.