A family has farewelled a father and daughter who died in a car crash in the NSW Central Tablelands.
David Drozd, wife Nicole and five of his nine children were driving to Dubbo when the family’s Kia Carnival collided head-on with a D-Max ute towing a dirt bike trailer, on the Great Western Highway near Wallerawang.
Drozd, 49, died at the scene, while his daughter Lydia, 11, was taken to hospital in a critical condition with another sibling.
Lydia died in hospital a week after the crash.
The driver of the D-Max ute, 43-year-old Jason McMahon, was also killed in the crash.
Today, the Drozd family and their friends said their goodbyes at a memorial service.
Mr Drozd’s children spoke at the service, sharing memories of their father.
”If I had the chance to say a few more words to him, I would say, ‘Dad, I love you, and now I know how much you love me’,” Joseph Drozd said.
“He cried tears of joy when I announced he was going to be a grandfather, it was always something he looked forward to,” Mr Drozd’s daughter Miriam Grey said.
Lydia was remembered as the creative and outgoing one in the family.
Her best friend and sister spoke at the service.
“Her favourite colours were purple and yellow, Lydia played with me all the time and we played dolls together,” Naomi Drozd said.
“God didn’t give me a sister, instead she gave me Lydia,” best friend Melody said.
The crash is believed to have been caused by a medical episode.
McMahon’s friends and family also gathered at a memorial service in Minchinbury today.
