Opposition Leader Bill Shorten comforted a mother and child involved in a head-on smash for nearly half an hour, after their car collided with another attempting to overtake the Labor leader’s motorcade near Newcastle just before 1pm.
NSW Police report both the 31-year-old woman and her 2-year-old son were uninjured in the crash. The 21-year-old driver of the other vehicle was taken to John Hunter Hospital with head injuries, but in a stable condition.
Footage taken by journos stationed on the campaign bus shows Shorten sitting in one of the damaged vehicles, shortly after the collision happened in Testers Hollow. SBS journalist Omar Dabbagh also reports Shorten then gave the pair a lift home.
this pic of Bill Shorten comforting a car crash victim will lead EVERY news tonight
via @MaitlandMercury#ausvotes pic.twitter.com/W3mwEur0ue— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) May 19, 2016
It appears @billshortenmp has now left scene of head on collision – those involved have left scene @SkyNewsAust pic.twitter.com/XYJqagREQq
— Dan Bourchier (@Dan_Bourchier) May 19, 2016
Bill Shorten driving home hunter valley woman involved in crash just before his Maitland press conference @ausvotes pic.twitter.com/wNcEicN37u
— Penny Evans (@Pennylouevans) May 19, 2016
Shorten has since canceled a planned campaign event in Maitland. Stay safe out there, err’body.
