Dad’s plea as four kids killed in crash
THE father of three of the four children who died when they were allegedly run down by a ute on a western Sydney footpath says the kids were “walking innocently” when their lives were cut short.
The man accused of their manslaughter and more than a dozen serious driving offences, meanwhile, will remain behind bars for at least another two months after failing to apply for bail.
Samuel William Davidson, 29, was allegedly three times over the legal blood alcohol limit on Saturday night when his Mitsubishi ute mounted a kerb in Oatlands and struck seven children on the footpath.
The children were lieved to be going for cream.
Four children, aged 13, 12, 11 and 8, died at the scene while an 11-year-old boy is in a serious but stable condition in hospital and two girls aged 13 and 10 suffered minor injuries.
Davidson was arrested after returning a positive roadside breath test result and allegedly recorded a beice blood alcohol reading of 0.15.
He has been charged with 20 offences including four counts of manslaughter, dangerous driving occasioning death and grievous bodily harm, negligent driving and drink-driving.
His case was heard yesterday at Parramatta Bail Court.
He did not appear in court and did not apply for bail, which was formally refused by magistrate John Mcintosh.
He’s scheduled to return to Parramatta Local Court on April 2. Mr Mcintosh visibly shook his head while reading the facts of the case. Three of the children killed in Saturday’s incident were siblings from the Abdallah family and the fourth was their cousin.
Danny Abdallah, the father of the victims aged 8, 12 and 13, told reporters yesterday he and wife Leila were heartbroken. They both visited the site on Bettington Rd yesterday morning, with Leila extremely distressed.
Distraught members of the Oatlands community yesterday also placed flowers at the scene, with shrines established for each of the Abdallah children. “I don’t know what to say. I’m numb, probably that’s what I feel at the moment. All I want to say is please, drivers, be careful,” Mr Abdallah said.
“These kids were just walking innocently, enjoying each other’s company ... and this morning I woke up and I have lost three kids.” The seriously injured child was not from the Abdallah family.
He was taken to The Children’s Hospital in Westmead and is in a serious but stable condition.