By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
A DRIVER who rammed down a fence and struck a St Francis Xavier College classroom was believed to have been playing the popular Pokemon Go game on his phone at the time.
Acting principal Timothy Newcomb was one of the first on the scene of the crash, where the driver escaped uninjured.
Mr Newcomb told The Gazette the school community was very fortunate that an information night was being held at the opposite end of the campus.
“When we arrived there were police and paramedics on the scene, the car went through one wall of the building,” Mr Newcomb said.
“Today the classroom is being assessed by insurance.”
It is understood the Berwick motorist was travelling north and negotiating a roundabout when he lost control at Flowerfield Close.
He ran off the road through a fence and into a school portable building.
Casey Highway Patrol is investigating the PokeStop crash, which occurred on Ridgemont Drive about 6.50pm on Thursday 29 July.
Police have been told the 19-year-old driver was trying to capture a Pokemon Go creature on his phone when he lost control of his car.
Mr Newcomb said the man did “reasonable damage” to a classroom that is used regularly by teachers and students.
“It’s a normal school day today, there has been minimal interruption we simply had to move classes to other rooms,” Mr Newcomb said.
“Students are naturally interested and concerned about the driver – as a whole school community we are mostly concerned about the driver.”
Mr Newcomb said he was unaware of any such incidents in the past at the school, and didn’t want to comment on the reason the driver lost control.
The teenage driver furnished a negative preliminary breath test, however it is expected he will be charged on summons in relation to careless driving.
A statement from Victoria Police on the matter of Pokemon gaming safety said: “As with any activity, Victoria Police suggests that you participate in a safe and lawful manner and remain aware of your surroundings”.
