The sister-in-law of a young mother who was killed along with her two children in a horrific freeway collision 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 collided with a cement truck on Monday on the other side of Hume Highway near Menangle Park, in southwest Sydney.
Three-month-old Ivy was pulled from the wreckage in critical condition and airlifted to Children’s Hospital in Westmead, but died early 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 was completely devastated.
“He’s getting used to his new life, it’s like starting all over again,” she told 7news with tears in her eyes.
Katrina Prahastono, her two-year-old son Kai and three-month-old daughter Ivy (pictured with Illham Prahastono) were killed after their silver SUV collided with a cement truck on the other side of Hume Highway in Menangle Park in the south-west -Sydney
“I wish I could hold her, tell her how much I love her,” she said.
Just hours before the tragedy unfolded, her best friend Diana Effendi was with Ms. Prahastono and their children in a playgroup.
‘I’m upset. I’ve lost my best friend, my sister, everything,” she said.
“Kat is a beautiful soul, she is so generous, she is kind.”
Ms. Prahastono was on her way to do her last shopping for a traditional Islamic festival called aqiqah – in honor of Ivy’s recent birth – when she reportedly made the fatal U-turn.
Concerned family members revealed they were looking forward to Ivy’s aqiqah, which was to be held this Saturday.
They will reportedly attend the family’s memorial service this weekend.
In the hours following Ivy’s death, Ms. Effendi set up a fundraiser calling on members of the community to raise money for Mr. Prahastono, who now has to pay for three funerals.
“We are calling on all our friends, family and wider community to raise money to cover funeral expenses following the tragic passing of… Katrina and their beautiful two [children]’ Mrs Effendi wrote.
Just hours before the tragedy unfolded, Diana Effendi (left) was with Ms. Prahastono (right) and their children in a playgroup
Astrid Wiradilaga (pictured), Ms Prahastono’s sister-in-law, wishes she had another chance to say ‘I love you’
‘This beautiful family lives in South West Sydney and loves 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 be so helpful in easing the burden on Ilham and his family.”
It was revealed earlier on Wednesday that Mr Prahastono was at work at the time and was alerted to the crash by his Apple Watch on Monday morning.
An Apple Watch feature detects when a serious car accident occurs and can help connect emergency services and notify emergency contacts.
Police said Ms Prahastono was on her way to the family’s Denham Court home in southwest Sydney as the tragedy unfolded.
It is believed she was attempting to make a U-turn from an emergency section on the Hume Motorway when she crashed into the truck.
The male truck driver, 48, was not injured and has since undergone a mandatory drug and alcohol test.
It was revealed that Mr Prahastono (pictured with his wife Katrina) was at work at the time and was notified of the crash by his Apple Watch
The force of the collision catapulted the engine of the mother-of-two’s car 100 meters into the road, witnesses said
Police are investigating how the accident happened and will prepare a report for the coroner.
Investigators urged anyone with dashcam visibility nearby or anyone with more information to come forward.
The force of the impact catapulted the engine of the mother-of-two’s car 100 meters into the road, witnesses said, with a photo showing it lying on the side of the road.
More than $115,000 has been raised for the family through GoFundMe to date.
The GoFundMe for the family can be found here.