A local community has been shaken by the death of a father and his young daughter in a terrible accident which also left two children seriously injured.
Ivy Hodgess, 11, and her father Wade, 45, died at the scene on The Bucketts Way in Tugrabakh, near Gloucester, on the New South Wales Central Coast, on Friday.
His brothers Lenix and Vann, aged 8 and 9, had to be rescued from the rubble by firefighters and rushed to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle.
Concerned relatives contacted police early Saturday morning amid concerns that Hodgess and her children had not arrived at a relative’s home.
Police launched an investigation and about two hours later found the accident site in Tugrabakh.
Mr. Hodgess’ SUV had gone off the road and down an embankment.
TO GoFundMe jumped in to support her devastated loved ones following the tragedy, including Ivy’s mother, Simara, and her partner, Darryn.
The fundraiser’s organizer said the Forster-Tuncurry community had been rocked by a “devastating” tragedy.
Police are seeking information after the deaths of 11-year-old Ivy Hodgess (pictured) and her father Wade Hodgess in a tragic crash on the New South Wales Mid North Coast on Saturday morning.
The fundraiser’s organizer said the Forster-Tuncurry community had been “shaken by the devastating news”.
“Simara and Darryn rushed to her side as she grieved the loss of her daughter and cared for the other children in the family,” the page states.
‘We ask the community to dig deeper and help this family give their little girl a beautiful send-off.
‘These funds will contribute towards ongoing rehabilitation, counselling, travel, rental assistance and any other daily expenses that may arise.
“May Ivy and Wade rest in peace.”
The fundraiser has raised nearly $13,000 in 24 hours.
The tragedy also shocked Forster-Tuncurry Junior Rugby League Football Club, with which the family had links.
Police were told they may have been traveling to a relative’s house when they swerved off The Bucketts Way, in Tugrabakh (pictured), and crashed.
A post on the club’s Facebook page said one of the members of the “Hawks junior family needs our support more than ever right now.”
“Understandably, during this time there will be some considerable expenses…(that) will put significant strain on the family budget,” the post reads.
Lenix, 8, has since undergone surgery.
“The prognosis for both Lenix and Vann looks promising,” the club publication added.
The crime scene was established as police launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Initial reports suggested the SUV had been involved in a “minor accident” earlier that night, according to New South Wales Police.
Anyone with information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers.