‘Heartbroken’ family mourns mother and toddler killed in horror Sydney crash
Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage of the terrifying crash involving the family's SUV and a cement truck.
A young family has been torn apart with the tragic deaths of a mother and son killed in a horrific car crash on one of Sydney’s busiest highways.
Katrina Sila, 34, and her two-year-old son Kai Prahastono died at the scene in Menangle Park in the city's southwest on Monday morning, when their car veered onto the other side of the Hume Highway and struck a cement truck.
Ms Sila’s four-month-old baby girl, Ivy, was in the backseat. She was pulled from the car’s wreckage and flown to Westmead Children’s hospital in a critical condition.
“We are heartbroken to announce the sad passing of Katrina Sila and son Kai,” the family said in a statement, the Daily Mail reported, “a loving daughter, mother, devoted wife, sister and friend to many.”
Baby saved by car seat
Emergency services were called to the Hume Highway at about 11.20am yesterday to find a northbound cement truck and a silver SUV had collided in the northbound lanes.
NSW Ambulance Chief Superintendent Mark Gibbs described it as a “tragic incident” to witness and said his “thoughts are with the family of those involved”.
“This was a challenging scene for our paramedics to attend,” he said in a statement, “with two patients deceased and another young child who was trapped in the vehicle.”
“Paramedics and two specialist medical teams worked alongside Fire and Rescue NSW to free the child who was then intubated on scene before being airlifted.”
Speaking to journalists, Sup Int Gibbs said the baby was saved by its car capsule.
“[Which] shows how child restraints work in such tragic circumstances,” he said, as reported by 7 News.
Police plea for dashcam footage
The truck driver escaped physical injury in the crash that caused the SUV’s engine to catapult a hundred metres up the road, and underwent mandatory testing as part of routine practices.
While a report is being prepared for the coroner, specialist police from the Crash Investigation Unit are appealing for anyone with information or dashcam footage to call police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
