A roadhouse worker who rushed to help federal MP Helen Haines after she was struck repeatedly by a Toyota LandCruiser said the alleged driver seemed more focused on retrieving his belongings than responding to the injured politician.
Brendan Nugent, 43, was arrested on Monday afternoon after Haines was hit by the vehicle outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, in north-east Victoria.
The independent member for Indi underwent emergency surgery in Melbourne overnight. She remains in a critical condition and has had one leg amputated.
Nugent, who lives in Tarrawingee near Wangaratta, was arrested at the scene and taken into custody. No charges had been filed by Tuesday morning, while counterterrorism authorities continued to investigate the incident.
Cody Lepoidevin, an employee at High Country Roadhouse, was among the first people to reach Haines. He also helped hold Nugent at the scene until police arrived.
“The locals had already got him out of the car. We had him sitting against the wall. He wasn’t going anywhere,” he said.
“He was more concerned about his personal belongings in the car.
“I just did what I could to help everyone else with Helen.”
Helen Haines (pictured) was struck several times by a Toyota LandCruiser outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, north-east Victoria, on Monday afternoon
Brendan Nugent was arrested at the scene. No charges had been laid by Tuesday morning
Cody Lepoidevin (pictured) said Nugent appeared concerned about his personal belongings as locals restrained him
Lepoidevin said he and local barber Ricky Jefferies ran to the scene after hearing the crash.
“Once we realised how serious it was, we called an ambulance and did everything else we could. That’s when everyone started moving into a panic, but with the best intentions,” he told News24.
“After calling the ambulance and confirming our location, I was able to run over and help.
“We needed poles to free Helen from her boot, and I was able to get them from our store.
“It’s those small contributions that help a group effort become effective.”
Lepoidevin described Nugent as “very erratic and irrational in his thoughts”, saying he appeared more interested in his passenger door, phone and wallet, based on what he remembered.
He said Jefferies pinned Nugent to the ground after police alleged that he had driven into Haines.
Lepoidevin also said that 10 to 15 minutes after the incident, a woman who identified herself as Nugent’s mother entered his workplace.
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Lepoidevin said he and local barber Ricky Jefferies (pictured) rushed to Haines’s aid after hearing the crash
Haines, a mother-of-three and grandmother, suffered ‘severe’ lower-body injuries
He said she told customers she had been contacted by police and that was why she came into the store discussing the incident.
Police and anti-terror authorities are expected to examine Nugent’s social media activity as part of their inquiries.
A social media account appearing to bear his name includes posts about Israel’s war in Gaza, as well as older posts about environmental issues such as logging.
Replying to Penny Wong on X after she shared a statement from the prime minister, the account called the two politicians a ‘couple of US lap dogs’.
‘Couple of US lap dogs. Maybe if you had warned Israel about its attacks the world wouldn’t be where it is right now,’ the account wrote.
Nugent had engaged with Haines on X on several occasions, the last being six years ago.
AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett confirmed on Tuesday that the attack had been an ‘isolated incident and there are no known threats connected to this matter’.
She said federal and state police are working to confirm ‘potential charges’.
Police and anti-terror authorities are expected to examine Nugent’s social media activity as part of their inquiries. Pictured, Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Krissy Barrett
Haines was retrieving belongings from the boot of her car, parked on Murphy Street outside her electorate office, when she was repeatedly struck by the LandCruiser
‘[It] may include state and Commonwealth offences, such as the offence of causing harm to a Commonwealth public official, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment,’ she added.
Haines was retrieving belongings from the boot of her car, parked on Murphy Street, when she was repeatedly struck.
Witnesses said the driver made a U-turn and drove the vehicle into her.
‘What witnesses have described is the driver doing a U-turn to get into the car park and to ram Helen against a vehicle, then to reverse and do it a second time,’ Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told ABC Radio on Tuesday.
The mother-of-three and grandmother was pinned by the four-wheel-drive and suffered ‘severe’ lower-body injuries.
She was initially treated at a local hospital before being airlifted about 250km to Melbourne.
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