'I can’t lose them': Father mourns 'perfect' wife and daughter killed in crash outside Victorian school
A heartbroken Victorian father has paid tribute to his wife and daughter killed in a horror car crash after leaving parent-teacher interviews, saying he "can't lose them."
Xinyu Yuan, 14, and her mother Ma Li Dai were killed instantly when their Toyota was hit by another car, as the pair left the Lighthouse Christian College at Cranbourne East on Wednesday.
Zheng Chuan Yuan was working at a welding factory at the time of the crash and rushed to the scene after getting a call to say his wife and daughter were in an accident.
“They are perfect, they are special to me,” he told The Herald Sun.
“They are beautiful and I can’t lose them.”
Xinyu's principal, Jacob Matthews, told 7 News Mr Yuan regretted not being there to drive his family home after the parent-teacher interview as he had to work.
Xinyu is being remembered as a sweet girl, and the tragic news rocked the close-knit Christian school community, Mr Matthews said
“She was a lovely girl. She was so gentle and so good. She was a very kind young girl and very clever. We will really miss her.”
Teachers and fellow students were in tears as the news broke.
Reverend Scott Ang told 7 News the distraught father has been inconsolable.
“Their father is very sad, he cried. I don’t know how to comfort him,” said the reverend.
“He loves his family, he loves his work.”
The man who ran into them was flown to the Alfred Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
He was seen by other drivers’ moments earlier, allegedly speeding above the 100 km/h limit, changing lanes and overtaking cars.
Police also think alcohol was a factor and believe he'd just been involved in an argument at a nearby pub.
