Ahmed Ouf, Cumberland councillor tilting at federal seat held by Jason Clare, shares thanks for ‘outpouring of community support’
Two school-age boys, one the son of a local councillor, were taken to hospital on Friday afternoon after an alleged hit-and-run accident in Auburn in western Sydney.
One of the children is the son of Ahmed Ouf, a Cumberland councillor and an independent candidate for the federal seat of Blaxland.
“At 4:03pm, a white Hilux ute with no plates ran through a roundabout, hitting two … boys on a scooter. The driver fled the scene, leaving the boys with serious injuries. One of the boys is our youngest son,” Ouf said in a statement on Friday.
New South Wales police confirmed the incident, noting that two 11-year-old children were “riding a motorised scooter along Gordon Road at Auburn, when they entered the roundabout at Union Street”.
“At the same time, a white Toyota Hilux entered the roundabout and struck the pair, knocking them off the scooter. The driver of the Toyota Hilux did not stop after the collision.”
“As investigations continue, anyone who witnessed the crash or has dashcam footage is asked to call Auburn Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,” NSW police said.
A NSW ambulance spokesperson said the children were “hit by a car at low speed”, sustaining “minor injuries”. The boys were transported to Westmead Children’s hospital for assessment.
A statement released by Ouf shortly before midnight on Friday said both boys had been discharged from hospital. Ouf’s son “suffered fractures to his foot, and some scrapes and bruises, but will be OK”.
“I am very grateful for the outpouring of community support. Your thoughts, prayers, and concern have meant a lot to my family,” Ouf said.
Ouf, a pharmacist and immigrant from Egypt, is running as an independent in the safe Labor seat of Blaxland. It has been held by Labor since it was formed and is now represented by the education minister, Jason Clare.
Ouf’s candidacy has been backed by The Muslim Vote, a grassroots political movement developed in response to community anger at Labor’s handling of the war in Gaza.
“There’s lots of people from different faith groups and ethnicities and origins that live in Blaxland,” he told ABC Radio National in October. “Amongst the issues that definitely were raised in the last year was Gaza.”