Two children dead, three people injured in hit and run in Dubbo

The woman was flown to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition. The 10-year-old boy suffered serious leg injuries and was flown to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and was undergoing surgery overnight. The nine-year-old boy suffered minor injuries and was taken to Orange Base Hospital.

Just after 8.40pm on Tuesday, police arrested a 25-year-old man near Elizabeth Street in Wellington following a short foot pursuit.

The man was taken to Dubbo Hospital for mandatory testing before being taken to Dubbo Police Station, where he was being questioned by police. No charges had been laid early on Wednesday morning.

More than 10 ambulance crews and four specialist medical crews in rescue helicopters were called to the scene of the crash.

NSW Ambulance Superintendent Andrew DeGabriel said paramedics were “confronted with an absolutely devastating scene”.

“These types of incidents are shocking for all emergency services and witnesses involved,” he said.

“It’s heartbreaking for this to happen to such a small community.”

Warne Street resident Herb Smith, an ex-police officer, walked outside after hearing sirens and saw a red car on the footpath and “a number of people hysterical”.

“People were screaming, ‘There’s children under the car, there’s children under the car!’ It was a chaotic scene.

“It’s something you don’t expect to happen so when it does it’s quite distressing. It’s multiplied when young children are involved.”

Dubbo Regional Council mayor Ben Shields said the crash happened close to Wellington’s swimming pool and council workers had rushed to help.

“The tragedy of this is Wellington is a town that is full of young families. Something like this will be devastating for a very long time,” he said.

“It’s one of those awful things in a small town, in a very small community where everyone knows everyone, a tragedy like this will be felt for many years.”

He said Warne Street was “very much a quiet suburban street” but said that “like any area, we do have hoons and this can lead to very tragic circumstances”.

Video footage of the incident shows emergency services crews parked and landed on a nearby oval.

The footage shows police tape strung up on the quiet suburban street and two red cars parked in front of a house.

One of the cars had its boot opened and a P-plate tucked behind the front licence plate.

NSW Police said officers attached to Orana Mid-Western Police District have set up a crime scene, which will be examined by specialist police from the crash investigation unit.

Inquiries are continuing. Anyone who may have information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers, 1800 333 000.