A School Award, A Happy Smile — Then A Tragedy No Sydney Family Could Imagine
FROM PROUD SCHOOL MOMENT TO HEARTBREAK HOURS LATER — AWARD-WINNING SYDNEY GIRL AND INFANT BROTHER DI-E IN DEVASTATING CRASH
A five-year-old girl proudly showed her mother a school award moments before she and her baby brother were killed in a crash in Sydney’s south-west.
Katherine, five, and her brother Harry, one, were killed when a vehicle struck them as they crossed the road with their mother, Sok, 33, at the intersection of Joseph Street and Gilbert streets in Cabramatta at 3.15pm on Wednesday.
Friend Patrick Te has spoken out about the ‘split second’ in which the mother lost her children.
‘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 said.
‘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.
‘A mother not only lost a child – she lost both of her children, her only two children.
‘Please kiss and hold your kids tight. Cherish every moment, because time with them is never promised.’
Fairfield City Police Acting Superintendent Timothy Calman said members of the public played a ‘phenomenal’ role in attempting to save the children.
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Katherine and Harry were killed after a vehicle struck the pram their mother, Sok, was pushing home
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Just moments before tragedy struck, five-year-old Katherine proudly showed her mother the award she had received at school
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Members of the public rushed to help after the crash, with several motorists overturning the vehicle and others performing CPR in a desperate attempt to save Katherine and Harry
‘The community involved here this afternoon was … I can only say it’s phenomenal,’ he said.
‘We’ve had a number of motorists that actually stopped, and collectively have moved the vehicle onto its side, tipped the car over, in order to get one of the children from underneath the vehicle.
‘Other bystanders have assisted with CPR to assist the children and the children’s mother.’
Eight men assisted at the scene but only four have spoken to police. Investigators are hoping to speak with the others.
Emergency services rushed both children to hospital in a critical condition following the crash, but they later died.
Their mother was treated at the scene for minor injuries, while the driver, a 56-year-old man, was uninjured.
The driver was arrested and taken to Liverpool Hospital for mandatory blood and urine testing. He was released without charge, pending further investigations.
Acting Supt Calman said the driver was not known to police.
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Acting Superintendent Timothy Calman praised the ‘phenomenal’ efforts of bystanders who stopped to help, describing the scene as one of the most confronting incidents police have encountered involving young children (Katherine is pictured above)
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Katherine and Harry were their mother’s only children. A family friend urged parents to ‘cherish every moment’ as loved ones grapple with the loss
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Neighbours said the intersection where Katherine and Harry were killed was ‘an accident waiting to happen’, claiming speeding vehicles and poor visibility have always been a concern
‘It’s probably one of the most confronting scenes that police have come across involving young children,’ he said.
A man who lives two houses from the crash site said he was horrified: ‘It’s horrible. It’s tragic.’
One neighbour who regularly crosses the intersection described the tragedy as ‘an accident waiting to happen’.
‘It’s like a racetrack around here,’ they said.
‘It takes ages to cross the road. You can’t see past the trees and parked cars. They need cutting down.’
A report on the children’s deaths will be prepared for the coroner.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The Daily Mail has contacted Fairfield City Council and the MP for Cabramatta Dai Le for comment.
This is a breaking story. More to come
