This Saturday should have been a special day for Katrina Sila and Ilham Prahastono with plans to celebrate the recent birth of their three-month-old daughter Ivy in an Islamic ceremony.
Instead, loved ones laid to rest on Friday for Ms Sila, 34, little Ivy and her two-year-old brother Kai after the family was tragically killed when their car crashed into a lorry in Menangle Park, Sydney’s southwest.
Hundreds of mourners flocked to Lakemba Mosque on Friday to say goodbye to the family.
Dozens of men carried their green coffins, wrapped in cloth with gold inscriptions and inscribed with Arabic text, out of the mosque – first was Mrs. Sila, followed by the children.
After lowering one of his children’s coffins into the hearse, Ilham Prahastono was surrounded and comforted by loved ones. Overcome with emotion, he sat down for a moment.
A heartbroken Ilham Prahastono (pictured on the left side of the casket, wearing a black tie) carried one of his child caskets out of the Lakemba Mosque on Friday
Katrina Sila (pictured left with her baby, Ivy), 34, ran errands for a traditional Islamic feast for Ivy before she and her children were killed in a horrific car accident
Hundreds of mourners gathered at the mosque to pray for Ms. Sila, Kai and Ivy
Hundreds of mourners (pictured) flocked to the Lakemba Mosque on Friday to say goodbye to the family
Devastated loved ones then headed to the nearby Narellan cemetery to lay down Mrs. Sila, Kai and baby Ivy to rest, mourners carrying flowers in the sweltering 30-degree heat.
Mourners embraced and wiped away tears as the trio was lowered into the ground.
Mr. Prahastono hung his head as he stood next to loved ones and stared at the cemetery, saying his last goodbyes to his wife and two children.
Ms Sila and Kai were killed instantly when their silver SUV collided with a cement truck on the other side of Hume Highway at around 11:20am on Monday.
Ivy was pulled from the wreckage in critical condition and airlifted to Children’s Hospital in Westmead, but died early Wednesday morning.
Ms. Sila was on her way to make final preparations for a traditional Islamic festival called aqiqah – to celebrate Ivy’s recent birth – when she reportedly made the fatal U-turn.
Emotional friends and family lowered one of the green coffins into a black hearse
A man made way in the back of one of the hearses as a second coffin was placed in the back
Mr Prahastono is hugged by loved ones after placing his children’s coffins in the hearse
The male truck driver, 48, was not injured and has since undergone a mandatory drug and alcohol test.
Seven News reported that Mr Prahastono was at work at the time and had been notified of the crash by his Apple Watch on Monday morning.
A watch feature detects when a serious car accident occurs and can help connect emergency services and notify emergency contacts.
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 yards away, witnesses said, with a photo showing it lying on the side of the road.
In the hours after Ivy’s death, Sila’s sister and best friend Diana Effendi set up a fundraiser and called on community members to raise money for Mr. Prahastono – who now has to pay for three funerals.
Mr. Prahastono was comforted by a man as he walked to a car to drive to Narellan Cemetery
Family and friends wrapped their hands around Mr. Prahastono as they walked away from the mosque
The grieving father and husband were overcome with emotion as he climbed into a black Mercedes limousine
Mourners embraced outside the mosque after reciting Islamic prayers for the family
“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.
‘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.”
More than $120,631 has been raised for the family through GoFundMe to date.
The GoFundMe for the family can be found here.
A fundraiser has been launched to help Ilham Prahastono (right) cover funeral costs and rebuild his life
.