Sheldon and Shane Storey had come to Wellington in the NSW Central West to visit their beloved mum. The two boys were all smiles as they walked home from the local pool on Tuesday afternoon when tragedy struck.
The kids, aged six and seven and based in Queensland with their father, were killed when an out of control car mounted the kerb and hit them at about 4.30pm, also injuring their mother Shayleen Frail and two other children.
Heartbroken father Joseph Shorey (seated) with Sheldon (right) and Shane (far left). Both boys died in an alleged hit and run accident in Wellington on January 5.
A 25-year-old man, Jacob Donn, was charged on Wednesday after allegedly fleeing the scene of the accident.
He was arrested by police later in the night.
Mr Donn was hit with 14 charges, including dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm, driving without a licence, failing to stop and assist after a fatal crash, and possessing a prohibited drug.
The children's mother, aged 34, was in a stable condition at Westmead Hospital on Wednesday where she was airlifted to after the accident. A 9-year-old child has been discharged from a local hospital and a 10-year-old is still at the Children's Hospital at Westmead with serious leg injuries.
The boys' father, Joseph Shorey, who rushed down from Emerald in Queensland, said the tragedy had ripped his heart out and deprived the world of two "cheeky, lovable, sporty show-offs".
"I am totally shattered and heartbroken. It is like a nightmare," Mr Shorey said on Wednesday.
The boys had come down for a holiday with their mum and grandparents. They were due back in Queensland in mid-January.
Shane was going to turn eight on Friday and had three birthday parties planned across Wellington and Emerald. He was "best friends" with his older brother Mark, with the pair said to be inseparable and often referred to as twins.
Mr Shorey said Sheldon was known as a "heartbreaker" and had 10-year-old girls chasing after him even though he was 6.
Shane wanted to become a police officer and Sheldon wanted to be a firefighter. The boys loved rugby league and were passionate Bulldogs fans.
Tarryn Burson, a friend of the boys' father, has set up a GoFundMe page for the family.
"I cannot fathom the pain he and all the mob are going through right now," Ms Burson said.
The children's mother Shayleen Frail, 34, is in a stable condition at Westmead Hospital.
Mark Stanley, a witness who has known the boys' mother for two decades and lives metres from where the crash happened on the quiet suburban street, said he was talking to the family seconds before the accident.
Mr Stanley said Sheldon and Shane were "lovely boys" and had been smiling and playful after leaving the nearby pool.
Following the crash, people from surrounding houses came rushing to the tragic scene, trying to help the severely wounded children.
Mr Stanley said their mother could be heard crying, "My babies, my babies."
He believes the accident will be a major blow to the community.
"We are all family around here," he said.
Wellington is home to a large and tight-knit Aboriginal community, located on the traditional lands of the Wiradjuri people.
Family and community members met at the crash site to pay their respects to Sheldon and Shane on Wednesday afternoon. During the gathering, the family played the boys' favourite songs, including
Dance Monkey by Tones and I and One Call Away by Charlie Puth.
An array of flowers, balloons and teddy bears have been left at the scene by Wellington residents who visited throughout the day.
The street where two young boys were killed by an out of control vehicle on Tuesday. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer
"Obviously this incident is a complete tragedy, a tragedy for the family and also for the township of Wellington," acting superintendent Natalie Antaw of the Orana Mid-Western Police District said.
"We have liaison officers in contact with the family. Obviously, they are grief-stricken in relation to the accident and the loss of their children."
Another resident, ex-police officer Herb Smith walked outside after hearing sirens and saw "a number of people hysterical".
"People were screaming, 'There's children under the car, there's children under the car!' It was a chaotic scene," he said.
Witnesses reported that the driver may have been doing burnouts and doughnuts when he allegedly lost control of the vehicle. On Wednesday morning, erratic skid marks on the road had been marked by forensic investigators and appeared to show how the car had mounted the kerb and collided with a fence.
Mr Shorey warned young men not to engage in dangerous driving because there were consequences "if you do something stupid and wrong".
"All you young fellas out there doing that ... it's not cool," he said.
He said the alleged conduct had resulted in a car ending up "on top of my babies".
Mr Donn was found at a home in Wellington at about 8.40pm. He allegedly ran from police and was arrested in an alleyway behind the house.
Police took mandatory blood and urine tests from the man and are awaiting the results.
He was refused bail and will appear in Dubbo Local Court on Thursday.
Start your day informed
Our Morning Edition newsletter is a curated guide to the most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.
Fergus Hunter is a crime reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.
Most Viewed in National
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMihAFodHRwczovL3d3dy5zbWguY29tLmF1L25hdGlvbmFsL25zdy9teS1iYWJpZXMtaGVhcnRicmVhay1pbi13ZWxsaW5ndG9uLWZvbGxvd2luZy1jYXItY3Jhc2gtdGhhdC1raWxsZWQtdHdvLWJveXMtMjAyMTAxMDYtcDU2czR5Lmh0bWzSAYQBaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuc21oLmNvbS5hdS9uYXRpb25hbC9uc3cvbXktYmFiaWVzLWhlYXJ0YnJlYWstaW4td2VsbGluZ3Rvbi1mb2xsb3dpbmctY2FyLWNyYXNoLXRoYXQta2lsbGVkLXR3by1ib3lzLTIwMjEwMTA2LXA1NnM0eS5odG1s?oc=5
2021-01-06 08:24:00Z
52781286350571
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "'My babies': Heartbreak in Wellington following car crash that killed two boys - Sydney Morning Herald"
Post a Comment