A fourth child is believed to be in a critical condition in hospital in Melbourne, while the female driver is said to be stable.
According to reports, the car ploughed through about 10 metres of scrub land before plunging into Lake Gladman in Wyndham Vale.
Police were joined by passers-by as they attempted to rescue the five occupants, jumping into the lake and punching holes through the car windows, and proceeding to give the children CPR.
Authorities confirmed that one child died at the scene, another passed away on the way to the hospital, while the third died in hospital. It is believed that all four children involved in the accident are under the age of six.
The woman driving the car was rescued and is currently under police guard at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, where she is said to be in a stable condition.
Police are now investigating the tragic accident, with Superintendent Stuart Bateson telling local media that the cause of the crash is not yet known. He added that authorities have not yet determined if the woman driving the vehicle is the mother of the children.
“It’s going to be a really harrowing investigation. It’s really tough, it’s tough on everyone involved,” he said.
