Sydney community gathers to mourn four children killed in car crash

Hundreds of people have gathered in the northwest Sydney suburb of Oatlands to pay tribute to the four children killed in a car crash.

Hundreds gathered for the prayer vigil held to remember the four children killed.

Hundreds gathered for the prayer vigil held to remember the four children killed. Source: SBS

Members of Sydney's Oatlands community gathered for a vigil on Monday night to mourn the four children killed in a horror car crash over the weekend. 

A cousin of Daniel Abdallah, the father of three of the children killed, said the strength shown by Daniel and his wife Leila was remarkable.

"I can't begin to explain the pain and the horror that any parent would suffer after a situation like this, but the strength that Leila and Danny have shown the community, the faith they have exuded and the example they're setting truly shows how deeply eternal life has affected their hearts," said Mr Abdallah's cousin, David.



He said the family has been deeply moved by the number of people who turned up to show their support. 

"It has brought tears and joys to the hearts of the family. And we're overwhelmed," he said.

"To see the community come together and support them like this just shows that the Lebanese community, and the broader community, have such a deep love and sense of unity."
Hundreds gathered in the Sydney suburb of Oatlands to honour the four children killed in a car crash.
Hundreds gathered in the Sydney suburb of Oatlands to honour the four children killed in a car crash. Source: SBS
Daniel Abdallah's children - Sienna, 9, Angelina, 12, and Anthony, 13 - had been walking along a footpath in Sydney's northwestern suburb of Oatlands to get some ice cream with their 11-year-old cousin, Veronique Sakr, when the crash happened.

They all died at the scene.
More flowers are added to a memorial for the four children killed in a Sydney car crash.
More flowers are added to a memorial for the four children killed in a Sydney car crash. Source: SBS
Three other children remain in hospital; the sister of the Abdallah children and her two cousins from the Kassas family.

One of the Abdallah family's neighbours, Peter, said the tragedy has brought the community closer together. 

"Nothing will ever bring back or change the history," he said.

"But we can only bond and be strengthened by this and be together and stronger as a community."
He said his children are the same age and went to the same primary school, so the loss hits particularly close to home. 

"Our kids are the same age and they were in the same year. I would have told my kids to play and go have an ice cream too. 

"It is an absolute tragedy and that is all we can say.

"When something like this happens to have all these people gather here is just an absolute blessing."

The 29-year-old driver did not apply for bail when the case was mentioned at Parramatta Court on Sunday. 

Samuel William Davidson has been charged with 20 offences relating to the incident. 

Police said they are building a case against Mr Davidson, who recorded a blood-alcohol reading of 0.150 - three times over the limit.

The tragedy has for the legal blood-alcohol limit to be lowered to reduce the risk of road fatalities.


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Published 4 February 2020 10:59am
By Biwa Kwan
Source: SBS News


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