The sister-in-law of a young mother who died in a car accident with her two children wishes she had one more chance to say ‘I love you’.
Katrina Prahastono, 34, and her two-year-old son Kai, were killed instantly when their silver Mazda SUV crashed into a cement truck across the Hume Highway in Menangle Park, south-west Sydney, on Monday.
Three-month-old Ivy was pulled from the rubble in critical condition and airlifted to Children’s Hospital in Westmead, but died Wednesday morning with her distraught father Illham Prahastono at her bedside.
His sister Astrid Wiradilaga was also with little Ivy when she succumbed to her injuries and said that Mr. Prahastono is completely devastated.
“She’s getting used to her new life, it’s like starting over,” she told 7news through tears.
Katrina Prahastono, her two-year-old son Kai and three-month-old daughter Ivy (pictured with Illham Prahastono) died after their silver SUV crashed into a cement truck on the other side of the Hume Freeway in Menangle Park, at south. -western Sydney
“I wish I could hug her, tell her how much I love her,” he said.
Just hours before the tragedy occurred, her best friend, Diana Effendi, was with Mrs. Prahastono and her children at a playgroup.
I am distraught. I have lost my best friend, my sister, everything,’ she said.
“Kat is a beautiful soul, she’s very giving, she’s kind.”
Ms Prahastono was on the road running her last few errands for a traditional Islamic celebration called aqiqah, to celebrate Ivy’s recent birth, when she is believed to have made a fatal U-turn.
The distraught relatives revealed that they were looking forward to Ivy’s aqiqah, which was to take place this Saturday.
Now, this weekend it is understood that they will attend the family’s memorial service.
In the hours after Ivy’s death, Ms. Effendi created a fundraising event calling on members of the community to help raise money for Mr. Prahastono, who must now pay for three burials.
“We are calling on all of our friends, family and the community at large to raise money to cover burial costs after the tragic passing of…Katrina and her two beautiful (children),” Ms. Effendi wrote.
Just hours before the tragedy occurred, Diana Effendi (left) was with Mrs. Prahastono (right) and their children at a playgroup.
Astrid Wiradilaga (pictured), Ms Prahastono’s sister-in-law, wishes she had one more chance to say ‘I love you’
‘This beautiful family resides in South West Sydney and have loved everything about this area, dreamed of raising their children here and called this community their forever home.
“Your prayers and any amount you can donate during this difficult time will go a long way in easing the burden on Ilham and his family.”
Earlier on Wednesday it was revealed that Mr Prahastono was at work at the time and his Apple Watch alerted to the accident on Monday morning.
An Apple Watch feature detects when a serious car accident occurs and can help connect to emergency services and notify emergency contacts.
Police said Ms Prahastono was on her way to the family’s home in Denham Court, in south-west Sydney, when the tragedy struck.
It is believed that he attempted to make a U-turn from an emergency bay on the Hume Highway when he crashed into the truck.
The 48-year-old truck driver was not injured and has since undergone mandatory drug and alcohol testing.
It was revealed that Mr. Prahastono (pictured with his wife Katrina) was at work at the time and his Apple Watch alerted him to the accident.
The force of the collision catapulted the engine of the mother-of-two’s car 100 meters higher, witnesses said.
The police are investigating how the accident occurred and will prepare a report for the coroner.
The investigators urged anyone with dashcam vision in the area or anyone with more information to come forward.
The force of the collision catapulted the engine of the mother-of-two’s car 100 meters higher, witnesses said, with a picture showing it lying on the side of the road.
So far over $115,000 has been raised for the family through GoFundMe.
The GoFundMe for the family can be found here.
