The devastated family of a man killed by an alleged disqualified driver while fleeing police have revealed his children are still waiting for him to return home.
Qantas traffic controller Lual Awan Lueth, 49, was on his way to work at Sydney Airport about 4am on Tuesday when his Toyota Corolla was hit by a Holden sedan on the Great Western Highway in St Marys in Sydney’s west.
The South Sudanese refugee was killed instantly while the 43-year-old driver of the sedan reportedly fled the crash site on foot but was arrested a short time later in a nearby backyard.
The driver of the sedan, who police claimed was banned from driving and was known to police, was taken to Nepean Hospital under police guard.
Yuol Yuol told Seven news that some of his uncle’s seven children still don’t know their father won’t be coming home. The youngest is only five years old.
“We haven’t told them yet,” he said.
‘They can see that something is wrong. Everyone is desperate.’
Mr Yuol added that his uncle did not deserve to die.
Lual Awan Lueth, 49, died Tuesday morning on his way to work as an air traffic controller
Shattered family members could not contain their grief as they visited the crash site
“I still can’t really believe it actually happened,” Mr. Yuol said.
“I can’t really ignore it.”
A local pastor said the loss was deeply felt by Mr. Lueth’s family.
“This innocent man went to work to make sure he could provide for his family, but his life has just ended,” said the Rev. Samuel John.
“The community is devastated right now.
“It will never be the same for the family.”
Ropes Crossing Strikers Football Club chairman Adam Hartas has since started one GoFundMe page to ease the financial burden on Mr. Lueth’s family.
“He was a hardworking man, and a leader and hero in his community,” he wrote.
“Mr. Lueth was part of the Ropes Crossing FC community, with three of his sons playing for Ropes Crossing FC in 2024.
‘As a club and community we want to support the family as much as possible.’
One of Mr Lueth’s sons is also a rising star at the Western Sydney Wanderers academy.
The page has already raised almost $10,000 in just one day.
Mr. Lueth is remembered as a “hard-working” man who cared for his wife and children
Mr Lueth was killed in the crash on the Great Western Highway near St Marys about 4am
Earlier on Wednesday, Daily Mail Australia revealed Mr Lueth was a hero of Sudan’s civil war.
Australian Nyarweng Community President Gabriel Thon Deng described Mr Lueth’s death as a “painful blow” to the local Sudanese community.
Mr. Lueth was a member of the Nyarweng ethnic group in South Sudan’s Jonglei state, which was torn apart by the Sudanese civil war that started in 1983 and lasted 22 years.
The war left the majority of people in the area – which has a population of almost 1.2 million – starving to death, without access to clean water, health care or education.
“There are no words to adequately express the shock and sadness of all who knew him,” Mr Deng said.
Qantas air traffic controller Lual Awan Lueth was on his way to work when disaster struck
Police have launched a critical incident response following the crash in St Marys (scene pictured)
‘Lual was a real hero in defense Nyarweng country and transforms the lives of many, especially within his family.
‘He was a hard-working man with many skills, admired by those around him.
“As we mourn this tremendous loss, we extend our deepest condolences to the immediate family.”
Deng Majak Piok added that Mr Luerth was the chairman of the Duk community in Sydney. Duk is a province in Jonglei, a state of South Sudan.
“His death saddens us to lose such a wonderful person at this earliest moment,” Piok said.
‘Late Lual was a good friend with whom we shared the history of our travels.
“On behalf of the Duk community in Sydney, I would like to extend my sincere condolences to his family and extended family.”
The Holden then hit a silver Toyota Corolla hatchback (pictured)
Devastated loved ones rush to the crash site on Tuesday
‘May God rest his soul in peace.’
Police were patrolling Mamre Road in a fully marked car during the early hours of Tuesday when they spotted the sedan and believed the driver was behaving suspiciously.
The driver is then said to have sped away towards the Great Western Highway and police followed but lost sight of the car.
Officers arrived at the scene of the accident a short time later. They administered first aid to Mr. Lueth, but despite their efforts he could not be saved.
North West Metropolitan Region Commander Gavin Wood described Mr Lueth’s death as an ‘incredible tragedy’.
“You have an innocent 49-year-old man going to work, and he’s not going to work, and he’s not going home. His family doesn’t get to see him… For that poor man, and his family and friends, their lives have changed in this moment.”
The 43-year-old driver of a sedan is still in hospital. Charges are expected to be imposed.
A crime scene has been established and a North Shore Police Area Command critical incident team has been investigating.
The research has also been subject to an independent review.
Anyone with dashcam footage, CCTV footage or information about the incident is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.