A local business owner intervened on Monday, October 19, 2026, during an incident in Wangaratta where Australian Member of Parliament Helen Haines was struck by a vehicle. Ricky Jefferies, a barber whose shop is located next to Haines’ electorate office, detained a 43-year-old man at the scene until police arrived.
The incident occurred while Haines, 65, was at the rear of her vehicle. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that early investigations indicate the driver of a Toyota LandCruiser performed a U-turn before striking Haines as she was loading or unloading items from her car. Haines was airlifted to a hospital, underwent surgery overnight, and remains in critical condition as of Tuesday.
Jefferies reported hearing a "loud bang" before running outside to assist Haines. He told reporters on Tuesday that he removed a knife from the driver’s pocket and threw it away because he was uncomfortable with the man's movements. Jefferies then held the man on the ground and informed him he could not leave until law enforcement arrived. Multiple agencies, including counterterrorism authorities, are currently investigating the matter.
The investigation involves multiple government agencies coordinating to determine the motive behind the 43-year-old driver's actions. For the community of Wangaratta, the immediate physical impact included the emergency airlift of their representative and the closure of the area around the electorate office.
Following the surgery on Monday night, Haines’ medical status continues to be monitored by hospital staff. The 43-year-old driver is in custody. Investigators have not provided a timeline for when they expect to release a formal motive or conclude the counterterrorism portion of the inquiry. The Prime Minister confirmed that authorities are continuing to review the circumstances of the U-turn and the collision.