A five-year-old girl and unborn baby have died while two adults were injured during a horror three-car smash in Australia.
A silver Toyota Land Cruiser, a black Ford Territory and a white Toyota Land Cruiser collided in the town of Shepparton East, Victoria, on Friday afternoon.
Savannah Kemp died at the scene while a woman, 26, who had been driving the silver Land Cruiser the youngster was travelling in, was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
A pregnant woman, 32, who was behind the wheel of the Ford Territory, was flown to Royal Melbourne Hospital, also with serious injuries.
Local police confirmed on Saturday that her unborn baby had died, according to news.com.au.
A 33-year-old man who was driving the white Land Cruiser, and his passenger, a 22-year-old man, were admitted to hospital for observation.
Savannah was due to start primary school next year. The school said in a post on social media it felt “saddened at the tragic passing” of the youngster.
Locals paid tribute to the little girl, with one woman posting: “Thinking of you all at this sad time, my heart breaks for you.
“Fly high and free with your golden wings baby girl we will miss your unending energy at basketball and that beautiful smile. Sending love to you guys RIP Savannah.”
A fundraising appeal to help pay for funeral costs has smashed its AUS$25,000 (£12,990) target, with a total at the time of publication of AUS$36,329 (£18,887).
Ellesha Ellis, who identified herself as a friend of the family, created a Meal Train for them, telling locals the Kemp family’s beautiful daughter and sister was “tragically taken from them in a devastating car accident”. Meal Train coordinates food and meal donations for people facing tough times.
Ms Ellis added: “May you rest in peace beautiful girl, heaven gained an angel far too soon.”
A man who lives near the junction, who didn’t want to be named, told the Herald Sun newspaper he was making a cup of coffee when he heard the crash.
He said: “You normally hear a screech and a boom, but there was no screech of tyres, just a very strange noise like there (were) two accidents one after the other in quick succession. It wasn’t a bang … I thought that sounds strange.”
The witness said he ran outside and managed to free Savannah from the wreck, but she had already died from the impact.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said: “Officers are working to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the collision.”
