A chaotic few minutes and a beloved MP’s life in the balance: a community grapples with the unfathomable
News Source
•Tue, 20 Oct 2026 10:38:59 GMT
📰 What Happened
People in Wangaratta rushed to help Helen Haines after she was hit. The attack happened around 3.35pm on Monday. A white Toyota did a U-turn in the street and rammed into her.
Haines was standing at the back of her car when it happened. She had just returned from a sod-turning event in Mansfield. Locals say the crash sounded like a normal car accident at first.
🔍 The Backstory
Her office sits on a quiet main street in the city. A shop across the road heard the impact. People came running when they understood what had happened.
Brendan Nugent, aged 43, has been charged over the attack. Police say they believe it was targeted. The town is still reeling from what took place.
🎯 Why It Matters
Ordinary people who ran to help are being called heroes. The attack has shaken a close regional community to its core.
People in Wangaratta rushed to help Helen Haines after she was hit. The attack happened around 3.35pm on Monday. A white Toyota did a U-turn in the street and rammed into her.
Haines was standing at the back of her car when it happened. She had just returned from a sod-turning event in Mansfield. Locals say the crash sounded like a normal car accident at first.
Her office sits on a quiet main street in the city. A shop across the road heard the impact. People came running when they understood what had happened.
Brendan Nugent, aged 43, has been charged over the attack. Police say they believe it was targeted. The town is still reeling from what took place.
Ordinary people who ran to help are being called heroes. The attack has shaken a close regional community to its core.