A man who lost his entire family in a horror crash on a major Sydney motorway will be faced with another difficult challenge this weekend.
Four-month-old baby Ivy died in hospital two days after her mother and brother were killed in a terrifying crash on a southwest Sydney motorway.
The Daily Telegraph reported Katrina Prahastono, 34, was making final preparations for her daughter Ivy’s birth celebration on Saturday, when she died alongside her two-year-old son Kai.
Ivy was pulled alive from the wreckage and fought for life in hospital for 36 hours.
She died in her father’s arms on Wednesday morning.
Now it is understood a memorial will be held on the same day Ivy’s birth would have been celebrated.
Ian Prahastono is grieving the loss of his wife and two children after they were killed in a horror crash. Picture: Facebook
“It’s unfathomable … Kat was incredible. There’s really no one else like her … she was so excited for her daughter’s aqiqah,” one relative said.
“We were all meant to be going to their place on Saturday.”
Father Ian Prahastano’s sister Diana Effendi has set up a fundraiser to help cover funeral costs for his “devoted mother, wife, sister friend” and their two children.
His son Kai, 2, newborn daughter Ivy and wife Katrina were killed. Picture: Facebook
“This beautiful family resides in the south west of Sydney and has loved everything about this area, dreamt of raising their children here and called this community their forever home,” Mrs Effendi said.
“Your prayers and any amount that you can donate during this difficult time will be so helpful in easing the burden on Ilham (Mr Prahastono) and his family.”
His other sister Astrid Wiradilaga said Mr Prahastono has been left shattered by their deaths.
“I wish I got to hold her, tell her how much I love her,” she said.
Mr Prahastono was at work at the time of the accident and was reportedly alerted to the crash by his Apple Watch, according to 7News.
The Apple Watch feature detects a severe car crash and can help connect to emergency services and notify emergency contacts.
The couple have been married for more than 8 years. Picture: Facebook
The incident happened on Monday morning when Ms Prahastono attempted to do a U-turn from an emergency bay on the Hume Motorway and collided with a cement truck.
The car’s engine was found almost 100m along the road after the impact of the crash crushed the car against a guard rail.
NSW Ambulance chief superintendent Mark Gibbs said the baby’s car seat had likely initially saved her life after it was pulled from the wreckage of the car.
The incident occurred on Monday morning while Ms Prahastono was finishing running errands for her daughters birth celebration. Picture: Facebook
The family will host a memorial for the Prahastono’s on Saturday. Picture: Facebook
“It shows how child restraints work in such tragic circumstances,” he said.
The 48-year-old driver of the cement truck was uninjured and was taken for mandatory blood and alcohol testing.
A statement from the family said they are “heartbroken to announce the sad passing” of a “loving daughter, mother, devoted wife, sister and friend to many”.
An Islamic prayer group announced the mother and son’s death to its members, asking to keep the family in their prayers.
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