A crash on the quiet street

At about three thirty five pm on Monday, Helen Haines stood at the back of her car outside her office in Wangaratta after returning from a sod-turning event in Mansfield.

Brendan Nugent charged

Brendan Nugent, forty three, has been charged over what Victoria police allege was a targeted attack. The driver allegedly reversed and hit Haines again as witnesses watched from across the street.

First responders spring into action

Cody Lepoidevin, who works at the High Country RoadHouse across from Haines' office, heard her crying out and ran to help with two or three customers. A local barber, Ricky Jefferies, also rushed to assist.

Jefferies tackles the driver

Ricky Jefferies ran to the car to get the driver out. He pulled him from his seat and wrestled him to the ground, telling him he could not leave while trying to calm him.

“I had no choice but to take him out of the car because it was the right and safest thing to do.”

Chaos in the street

One person jumped in front of the Toyota while Jefferies wrestled the driver to the ground.Jefferies alleges the man had a knife on him, which was thrown away.Haines suffered serious injuries to both legs.

Haines has one leg amputated

Helen Haines was on the bitumen with serious injuries to both her legs. She has had one leg amputated. The driver has been in custody since the incident.

A community in shock

On Tuesday, Wangaratta remained in shock.The main street was quiet aside from media outside Haines' office.The front door was slowly being obscured by cards and flowers as community members left messages hoping for recovery.

A beloved figure in the community

Louise Middleton, who had volunteered for Haines in the last two elections, said she was hoping it was a minor thing.She described Haines as not a divisive character and said pretty much everyone loves her.

“Helen is not a person that just would have any enemies.”

Respect across the divide

Chris Wernert said he could not sleep Monday night.He made a T-shirt reading Wangaratta this is not us and waved an Australian flag outside Haines' office.

“We want people to be able to talk to each other.”

A community's plea

Wernert said some views might be hard to take on board but communities need to have those conversations. He said Wangaratta does not want violence in Australia and does not want this to happen again.

“We do not want this in Australia. We do not want this.”