Two young siblings have died after a car carrying several children rolled over west of Melbourne. Ossama El Hawli, 11, and his seven-year-old sister, Sarah El Hawli, were killed in the crash at Parwan on Tuesday afternoon.
The vehicle rolled near the intersection of Nerowie Road and Parwan-Exford Road shortly before 4pm. Seven children were travelling in the vehicle at the time. They had been collected from school by a 34-year-old woman.
The other five children were injured. Their injuries were not considered life-threatening. The woman was also taken to hospital for observation. Sarah was treated by paramedics at the crash site. Despite their efforts, she could not be saved.
Ossama suffered critical injuries. He was taken to hospital by helicopter. He later died overnight. News of the siblings’ deaths has left their community grieving. The Australian Islamic Centre confirmed the children’s identities in an emotional statement shared on Wednesday.
The centre described Ossama and Sarah as beloved members of the community. It also offered its condolences to their parents and relatives. Police are still trying to understand what caused the vehicle to roll. Detective Sergeant Tony Gentile said the crash scene was chaotic. Several people stopped to help after the incident.
“There were people everywhere,” he said. He said the vehicle appeared to have rolled for reasons that remain unknown. Police said drugs and alcohol were still considered possible. However, there was no clear indication of either at this stage.
Emergency crews responded quickly to the crash. Ambulance helicopters, intensive care paramedics and advanced life support teams attended the scene. Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has relevant dashcam, phone or other footage has been asked to contact Crime Stoppers in Australia. The investigation into the deadly rollover remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.
