A teenage girl injured in a tragic crash near the South Australia-Victoria border, which also claimed the life of her younger brother, has died in hospital.
The 15-year-old girl was travelling in a grey Toyota station wagon with her family on the Riddoch Highway near Nangwarry at about 2.40pm on Sunday.
The chaos started when a black Holden sedan collided with an emu, the police said on Sunday evening.
The Toyota had braked suddenly to avoid hitting a black Holden sedan that had hit an emu before a white Nissan ute crashed into the car from behind.
‘A black Holden sedan collided with an emu, with no injuries suffered by the female driver and sole occupant,’ the police said.
‘A grey Toyota station wagon braked to avoid the collision, while a white Nissan ute crashed into the rear of the Toyota.’
Emergency services rushed to the crash site where paramedics treated the Eykelenburg family.
Five-year-old Isaac was declared dead at the scene, while his 15-year-old sister was airlifted to hospital in Adelaide, where she later died from her critical injuries.
The chaos started when a black Holden sedan collided with an emu, the police said on Sunday evening
A five-year-old boy died at the scene, while his 15-year-old sister was airlifted to hospital, where she later died from her critical injuries
Their father, 42-year-old Chris, was driving the car at the time of the crash and was also taken to hospital in Mount Gambier.
His wife, Paula, 46, is understood to have flown to Adelaide with their 15-year-old daughter.
The pair’s 13-year-old girl and six-year-old boy were also taken to hospital with minor injuries.
The driver of the Nissan, a 22-year-old man from Worrolong, was not injured but paramedics took him to hospital as a precaution.
Major Crash officers are now on scene investigating the circumstances of the crash.
Mr Eykelenburg explained he and his wife were thankful for the community’s support as his family comes to terms with their loss.
‘My wife and I are very grateful for anything given what we’ve lost,’ Mr Eykelenburg told the Advertiser.
‘I’m still trying to come to terms with everything and I’m still in hospital.’
