# Car allegedly made U-turn and hit Helen Haines twice; local barber praised for detaining driver

https://mins.news/en/item/107007

- The Guardian, 2026-10-19 23:24 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/20/helen-haines-mp-alleged-attack-wangaratta-surgery-ntwnfb

> Witnesses said a man turned around and rammed independent MP Helen Haines twice near her Wangaratta electorate office. Haines remained in critical but stable condition after emergency surgery, while police planned to interview the arrested driver. Neighboring barber Ricky Jeffries was praised for intervening and holding the driver until police arrived.

## Related coverage

- [‘I don’t want to be known as a hero’: barber who helped Helen Haines praised by PM](https://mins.news/en/item/107021) — The Guardian, 2026-10-19
- [Australian MP Helen Haines critically injured in car incident PM calls deliberate](https://mins.news/en/video/106371) — BBC News, 2026-10-19
- [Australian MP Helen Haines critically injured in ‘deliberate’ car ramming](https://mins.news/en/item/106127) — Al Jazeera, 2026-10-19
- [Australian MP seriously injured in suspected car attack](https://mins.news/en/item/106030) — DW, 2026-10-19
