The parents of two children who were killed in a horror accident in Cabramatta, Sydney’s southwest, have spoken out about their anguish for the first time.
Mum Sok Ram and her two young children Katherine, five, and brother Harry, 14 months, were heading home after school pick-up on Wednesday when their pram was hit by a car.
Paramedics and medical crews worked to treat Katherine and Harry’s injuries at the site of the crash, before the children were rushed to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in a critical condition, but they could not be saved.
In an online fundraiser set up for the family, friend Patrick Te said the five-year-old was excited to go home after just receiving an award at school, before the two young children’s lives were taken in “a split second”.
“I am absolutely devastated … a mother not only lost a child, she lost both of her children, her only two children,” Mr Te said.
“As I sit here at Westmead Children’s Hospital looking at these two precious souls and their mother, it is extremely difficult to comprehend,” he continued in the post.
“As a parent myself, I cannot even begin to fathom the long road ahead for both the mother and father. Regardless of who is at fault, their journey to recovery will be incredibly difficult.
“They deserve all the help they can get.”
At the time of writing, $138,279 has been raised from the $200,000 goal to support the family.
On Thursday, the parents of the young children told ABC that they hold no animosity towards the driver, despite the horrific nature of the accident.
“I can’t describe it, last night I couldn’t sleep. Even the driver, I forgive him already,” Mr Tha said.
“Nothing can change, you know? Nothing can change. I couldn’t get my kids back.”
Ms Ram said she was “not angry to the driver”.
“I think about when the car came to hit us, I wish it hit me, not my babies,” she said.
The grieving mother said she loved her children “more than life”.
The driver of the car, a 56-year-old man, was uninjured and arrested before being taken to hospital for mandatory testing. He has since been released without charge, pending further investigation.
Several members of the public had also rushed to help, physically moving the car to try and free one of the children.
NSW Police Superintendent Tim Calman said the public effort to provide help was “phenomenal”.
“We’ve had a number of motorists that have actually stopped and collectively have moved the vehicle onto its side, tipped it over in order to get one of the children from underneath the vehicle,” he said.
“It’s tragic circumstances for the family.”
Image: GoFundMe
