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Woman faces more charges over fatal Sydney school crash

Mourners embrace at the funeral of one of the boys killed in an accident at Banksia Road Primary School.

Mourners embrace at the funeral of one of the boys killed in an accident at Banksia Road Primary School. Photo: AAP

The driver of a car that ploughed into a classroom of a school in Sydney’s south, killing two boys, has now been charged in relation to three girls who were injured.

Maha Al-Shennag was behind the wheel when her Toyota Kluger careered into a classroom of 24 students at Banksia Road Public School on Tuesday, killing two eight-year-old boys.

Ms Al-Shennag, 52, has now been charged with dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and cause actual bodily harm by misconduct, in relation to three girls who were injured.

She had previously been charged with dangerous driving occasioning death and negligent driving, in regards to the two deaths.

The additional charges came as about 300 mourners gathered at Lakemba Mosque for the funeral of one of the two boys killed in the crash.

Following the Thursday funeral mourners, including the eight-year-old’s classmates, continued to Rookwood cemetery for the boy’s burial.

laemba mosque

The coffin of an eight-year-old boy killed in the crash leaves Lakemba Mosque. Photo: AAP

Sixteen ambulances were called to the school on Tuesday after the SUV crashed through the classroom wall shortly before 9.45am.

More than 20 people were injured and three girls were treated at Westmead Children’s Hospital after the crash.

Two of the injured girls were discharged yesterday.

A third girl remains in hospital in a stable condition.

Ms Al-Shennag has undergone mandatory blood and urine tests with results yet to be returned to police.

On Wednesday, a lawyer for Ms Al-Shennag said his client had described what happened as a tragic accident and that she was “deeply sorry for the loss and hurt suffered” by the children and the wider community.

Police said they were keeping an “open mind” as to what caused the crash, but the car involved will be checked for mechanical problems and Ms Al-Shennag’s mobile phone will be inspected.

NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes said it would take years for the school community to heal.

“This will be a tragedy that will have consequences for many days, many weeks, many months and many years ahead,” he said.

Specialist trauma teams are on campus to offer help to children who saw “unimaginable sights”, Education Department secretary Mark Scott said.

On Tuesday night, more than 100 students and adults gathered outside the school to mourn the death of the two boys.

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