A community is in shock after the death of a child and four other children were injured in a “tragic accident” in which a car went through a school fence and hit them.

A community is in mourning after a car crashed into a fence, killing a schoolboy and seriously injuring four other children.

A 40-year-old woman had just picked up her son from Auburn South Primary School in Melbourne’s east on Tuesday when the incident occurred.

While attempting to make a U-turn, the car crashed into the school fence and into a group of children sitting at a table.

An 11-year-old boy suffered serious injuries in the accident and died on the way to hospital. Two 11-year-old girls, a 10-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy were seriously injured and taken to hospital. Three of the children were taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital and two to Monash Medical Centre.