‘I wish it hit me’: Sydney parents share anguish after siblings in pram hit and killed by car

Lead

The parents of two children killed when a car struck their pram in Sydney’s south-west have spoken publicly of their grief and forgiveness, as police continue their investigation into the crash that shocked the tight-knit community of Cabramatta.

Five-year-old Katherine and her 14-month-old brother Harry were hit by a vehicle while crossing the intersection of Joseph and Gilbert Streets with their mother, Sok Ram, at about 3:15pm on Wednesday, according to reports from ABC Australia and The Guardian. The children were taken to hospital in a critical condition but died shortly after.

Coverage Comparison

Coverage of the tragedy has been extensive, with Australian public broadcaster ABC and The Guardian among the outlets reporting. Two ABC articles focused on the parents’ emotional statements and the investigation, while The Guardian provided additional details including the children’s identities and a community fundraiser. All sources described the incident as a car collision and emphasized the family’s profound loss.

Key Claims

• Two children, aged 5 and 14 months, were killed in a car crash in Cabramatta, Sydney, on Wednesday afternoon, as reported by multiple outlets.
• The children were identified as Katherine and Harry, with The Guardian being the first to report their names and ages.
• The accident occurred at the intersection of Joseph and Gilbert Streets, confirmed by ABC and The Guardian.
• The driver, a 56-year-old man, was arrested and taken to hospital for mandatory testing, per police statements reported by multiple outlets.
• The children’s mother, Sok Ram, suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene, according to police and media reports.
• The parents have forgiven the driver, as reported by ABC and The Guardian, quoting Vundy Tha as saying "I forgive him already."
• A GoFundMe fundraiser set up for the family had raised over $115,000 by early Thursday afternoon, as reported by The Guardian. This detail was not widely covered by other sources in the provided material.

Perspectives

The parents’ perspective: Sok Ram and Vundy Tha expressed their heartbreak and forgiveness. In an interview with Nine News, Ram said, "I wish it hit me, not my baby and daughter," and described her love for her children. Tha said, "They are beautiful kids, they’re very smart," and pleaded with motorists to drive safely.

Police and investigation: New South Wales police established a crime scene and are investigating the circumstances of the crash. A report will be prepared for the coroner, as noted in one ABC report. The driver’s identity has not been released, and he remains under investigation.

Community response: A community figure, Patrick Te, launched a GoFundMe fundraiser, describing the incident as a "split second" tragedy in which a mother "lost both of her children, her only two children." The response has been swift, with over $115,000 raised by Thursday afternoon.

Premier’s comment: New South Wales Premier Chris Minns commented on the tragedy, according to The Guardian, though specific remarks were not detailed in the available material.

This article was compiled based on reports from ABC Australia and The Guardian. Details such as the children’s names and the fundraising amount were provided by a single source and have not been independently verified.