Mum ‘distraught’ as kids killed in fatal smash

SYDNEY AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos, 26 AUGUST, 2023: Two children have died along The Grand Parade in Monterey, Sydney after a horror car crash in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Bullard.
The crash occurred on the evening of Friday August 25 in the southern suburb of Monterey. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Bullard.

A “distraught” Sydney mother of two young boys who died in a fatal crash has spoken to the driver who was allegedly behind the wheel at the time of the accident.

The brothers died after a blue Subaru WRX carrying a driver and three children slammed into a tree on the Grand Pde in Monterey in Sydney’s south at 9.50pm on Friday.

A young girl was also in the car and suffered minor injuries.

Jimmy Martin Brito has been charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing death and one count of causing bodily harm by misconduct.

Documents tendered to the court say the 33-year-old was allegedly driving the vehicle in a “manner dangerous to another person” at the time of the impact.

SYDNEY AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos, 26 AUGUST, 2023: Two children have died along The Grand Parade in Monterey, Sydney after a horror car crash in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Bullard.
Flowers and two blue teddy bears were left by the tree where the incident occurred. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Bullard.

Mr Brito was taken to St Georges Hospital and remains under police guard.

On Sunday, his lawyer confirmed the driver was in the “early stages of recovery” and said he had recently undergone surgery.

The lawyer confirmed his client had spoken to the mother of the two boys, and said the woman would continue to support and “stand by” Mr Brito.

“He understands what happened but I don’t think he’s fully comprehended (what’s happened,)” Mr Arya said.

“I don’t think he knows if the two little ones have lost their lives.”

Mr Brito was granted a two week adjournment and will front Sutherland Local Court on September 7.

Mr Arya indicated he would make an application for bail at the next hearing.

It comes as members of the community made a makeshift memorial for the two boys by the tree where the incident occurred.

The driver of the car remains at St George Hospital under police guard. Picture: Supplied
The driver of the car remains at St George Hospital under police guard. Picture: Supplied

The fatal crash has also prompted separate calls for the state government to act amid concerns of dangerous driving in the area

Independent Bayside Council councillor Heidi Lee Douglas advocated for the immediate installation of speed cameras on Grand Pde and Bay St and the dedication of more policing resources in the St George area.

“Additionally we ask for you to honour your government’s commitments to begin noise cameras trials in Bay St and Sandringham by the end of 2023, with a commitment to revise the relevant legislation necessary to implement wider noise camera use across the state by the end of 2024,” Ms Douglas wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday.

SYDNEY AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos, 26 AUGUST, 2023: Two children have died along The Grand Parade in Monterey, Sydney after a horror car crash in Sydney. Shards of windscreen glass caught in the bark of the tree. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Bullard.
Shards of windscreen glass could still be seen in the tree bark on Saturday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Bullard.
NSW Ambulance paramedics rushed to the scene after the collisions at about 9.50pm on Friday. Picture: Supplied
NSW Ambulance paramedics rushed to the scene after the collisions at about 9.50pm on Friday. Picture: Supplied

“We also ask that by the start of the school year 2024, mandatory education to prevent anti-social driving is implemented in all NSW high schools.”

A Transport for NSW spokesperson said it will continue to support NSW Police with their investigation and urged the community to drive safe.

“Everyone at Transport for NSW is thinking of the families who lost children in the most tragic circumstances in a car crash in South Sydney Friday night, and we offer our deepest sympathies,” they said.

“We thank emergency services and local community for their efforts in responding to the crash.

‘We urge the community to follow the road rules when they drive and to always drive in accordance with local road conditions.”