They L-o-st Both Of Their Children — Then Made A Decision Nobody Expected After The Tragic Sydney Crash
The parents of two young children killed when they were hit by a car near a busy highway in Sydney’s south-west have shared their immense grief, thanking bystanders for trying to help and saying they forgive the driver.
Five-year-old Katherine and 14-month-old Harry were hit by a car at the intersection while being pushed in a pram by their mother, Sok Ram, while they were on their way home from Cabramatta West Public School.
Katherine, 5, and Harry, 1, were killed when they were hit by a car in Cabramatta, Sydney. GoFundMe
The children were killed in a crash near the Cumberland Highway. Supplied
The incident began at about 3.15pm yesterday, after emergency crews were called to the intersection of Joseph and Gilbert Street, on the Cumberland Highway in Cabramatta, following reports of a crash.
The children were rushed to hospital with critical injuries, where they died.
Ram was treated for minor injuries.
Speaking to 9News this morning, the distraught parents thanked bystanders who rushed to help at the scene.
“Everyone tried to save them but … they’re not alive, they’re not alive. I can’t believe it,” Ram said.
“I think about when the car come, I wish it hit me and not my babies.”
Father Vundy Tha said even having lost their children, they forgave the driver, understanding that it was not intentional.
“We forgive everything,” he said.
An online fundraiser set up for the family has raised more than $175,000 so far.
The organiser, Patrick Te, described the heartbreaking final moments before the crash.
Parents Vundy Tha and Sok Ram have spoken after their children were killed in the horrific crash. 9News
“Their mother, Sok, was picking up Katherine from school. Katherine, who was in her first year of kindergarten, was excited to go home after just receiving an award,” he wrote.
“As they were crossing the road together, heading back to the car, an oncoming vehicle suddenly struck both Katherine and the pram where Harry was sitting.”
Superintendent Tim Calman called it “one of the most confronting scenes” police have seen, but added that the community were “phenomenal” in providing immediate help.
“We’ve had a number of motorists that actually stopped and have collectively moved the vehicle on its side … to get one of the children from underneath the vehicle.”
Calman said multiple onlookers performed CPR on the children.
Their mother, Sok, was taking the children home. GoFundMe
Superintendent Tim Calman said the driver of the vehicle was arrested following the fatal crash. Supplied
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The children were rushed to Westmead Hospital in critical condition, but they died shortly after.
The 56-year-old driver, who was uninjured, was arrested and taken to hospital for mandatory testing.
He was interviewed by police and has since been released without charge.
Crash investigators are now reviewing security footage in the lead-up to the collision, trying to piece together how it unfolded.
