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Family devastated by road crash were moving to Perth 'to start new life'

A mother and son who died on Monday when a truck crashed into their parked car were on their way to Perth to ‘start a new life’ with their family.

Amy Slater, 26, and her 10-year-old son Leroy died at the scene, about 30 km outside of Corrigin in the West Australian Wheatbelt, while her other three children remain in hospital after the horror crash.

Five year old Jacob is fighting for life, while Thomas, eight, and Maddy, three, are also injured.

Amy Slater and her family were heading for Perth to ‘start a new life.’ Source: 7 News
Amy Slater and her family were heading for Perth to ‘start a new life.’ Source: 7 News
Amy’s four children. Leroy, who died along with his mother, is in the middle. Source: 7 News
Amy’s four children. Leroy, who died along with his mother, is in the middle. Source: 7 News

The family of six were heading to Perth when their car ran out of petrol.

Amy’s partner, the children’s father, began walking to get fuel at about midnight on Sunday while the rest of the family waited in the car.

A truck towing grain trailers came around the bend of Brookton-Corrigin Road and crashed into the parked car.

The 45-year-old truck driver was not injured. Source: 7 News
The 45-year-old truck driver was not injured. Source: 7 News

The family had packed up their belongings into a trailer and were moving to Perth to start a new life, closer to the Perth Children’s Hospital so one of the boys could get the help he needed for a heart condition.

“She made the decision to move to Perth to give her kids a better life and now we don’t have her anymore,” Amy’s aunty Pauline Bropho said.

The three surviving children had to be flown to Perth by the rescue helicopter.

Devastated family members embrace outside Perth’s Children’s Hospital. Source: 7 News7news
Devastated family members embrace outside Perth’s Children’s Hospital. Source: 7 News7news

Their father was found by police still walking to Corrigin. Officers had to break the news to him that his partner and eldest son had been killed.

The road was closed for most of the day, with wreckage strewn across a paddock, as major crash officers tried to work out how the accident happened.

The family must now plan two funerals, but said they would have to turn to crowdfunding to pay for the services to farewell Amy and Leroy.

Leroy’s two brothers and little sister, all of whom are at Perth Children’s Hospital, are understood to be unaware that two members of their family have died.

A 26-year-old woman and her 10-year-old son died when a truck crashed into their parked car outside of Corrigin. Source: 7 News
A 26-year-old woman and her 10-year-old son died when a truck crashed into their parked car outside of Corrigin. Source: 7 News

While Thomas, 8, and Maddie, 3, are both in serious but stable condition, five-year-old Jacob is still in intensive care in critical condition.

The 45-year-old truck driver from Forrestfield was not hurt but police say he is “devastated” by the tragedy.

Officers say it’s too early to say what went wrong.