Helen Haines Critically Injured After Wangaratta Collision; Man Arrested

Conceptual illustration of a quiet regional Victorian office street at dusk with subdued blue light

Updated: 19 October 2026, 10:51 p.m. AEDT

Independent federal MP Helen Haines was critically injured after being struck by a vehicle outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, Victoria, on Monday, 19 October. A 43-year-old man has been arrested.

Victoria Police said a white Toyota LandCruiser struck a 65-year-old woman outside an office on Murphy Street at about 3:35 p.m. A passer-by detained the driver after he left the vehicle, and police took him into custody. The man, from Tarrawingee, was to be interviewed over the incident.

Police said they seized a knife from inside the Toyota and were investigating whether the collision was intentional. Their statement said it was not yet known whether the two people knew each other.

ABC News identified the injured woman as Haines, the member for Indi, and reported that she had been flown to Melbourne for emergency surgery. Her family thanked first responders and asked the public and media to respect their privacy.

The investigation remains ongoing, with Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives involved. Police have appealed for witnesses and anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. A motive had not been established in the reporting available at this update.

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