Hundreds of mourners gathered at the Australian Islamic Centre in Newport, Melbourne, to pay respects to cousins Sarah El Hawli, 7, and Ossama El Hawli, 11. The children were traveling home from school when the 4WD they were in crashed near Parwan on Tuesday afternoon.
Sarah died at the scene, while Ossama was airlifted to The Royal Children's Hospital with critical injuries and passed away that night. The family issued a statement expressing their grief and the difficulty in comprehending the loss, asking for strength and patience.
A first responder on the scene shared their traumatic experience, describing the chaotic aftermath and their efforts to comfort the children, including a two-year-old survivor. The family conveyed their gratitude to the first responder and all emergency personnel who attended the scene, acknowledging their efforts and compassion.
Al Iman College in Melton South, where Sarah was a student, released a statement expressing deep sadness and the impact of the tragedy on the school community.
The vehicle carried seven children and a 34-year-old female driver. Five other children and the driver were treated for injuries. The Major Collision Investigation Unit is investigating the crash. The driver's family reported that she had swerved to avoid rocks on the road.