Mum and two kids killed in Menangle Park car crash farewelled 

This Saturday should have marked a special day for Katrina Sila and Ilham Prahastono, celebrating the recent birth of their three-month-old daughter Ivy at an Islamic ceremony.

Instead, loved ones on Friday were laying to rest Ms Sila, 34, little Ivy and her two-year-old brother Kai after the family were tragically killed when their car slammed into a truck in Menangle Park, south-west Sydney. 

Hundreds of mourners flocked to Lakemba Mosque on Friday to say their final goodbyes to the family. 

Dozens of men carried the green coffins, cloaked with gold-inscribed cloth and engraved with Arabic text, out of the mosque – first was Ms 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. Overwhelmed with emotion, he momentarily sat down.

A heartbroken Ilham Prahastono (pictured on the left of the coffin, wearing a black tie) carried one of his children’s casket out of Lakemba Mosque on Friday

Katrina Sila (pictured left holding her baby, Ivy), 34, was running errands for a tradition Islamic celebration for Ivy before her and her kids were killed in a horrific car crash

Katrina Sila (pictured left holding her baby, Ivy), 34, was running errands for a tradition Islamic celebration for Ivy before her and her kids were killed in a horrific car crash

Hundreds of mourners packed into the mosque to say prayers for Ms Sila, Kai and Ivy

Hundreds of mourners packed into the mosque to say prayers for Ms Sila, Kai and Ivy

Devastated loved ones then headed to the nearby Narellan Cemetery to lay Ms Sila, Kai, and baby Ivy to lay to final rest, mourners carrying flowers in the sweltering 30 degree Celsius heat.

Mourners embraced and wiped away tears as the trio were lowered into the ground. 

Mr Prahastono hung his head as he stood next to loved ones, staring into the burial plot, as he said his final goodbyes to his wife and two children. 

Ms Sila and Kai were killed instantly when their silver SUV veered into a cement truck on the other side of the Hume Highway about 11.20am on Monday. 

Ivy was pulled from the wreckage in a critical condition and airlifted to the Children’s Hospital at Westmead but died early on Wednesday morning. 

Ms Sila had been out on the road making the final preparations for a tradition Islamic celebration called aqiqah – to celebrate Ivy’s recent birth – when she is understood to have made the fatal U-turn.

Emotional friends and family lowered one of the green coffins into the back of a black hearse

Emotional friends and family lowered one of the green coffins into the back of a black hearse

One man made room in the back of one of the hearses as a second coffin was placed into the back

One man made room in the back of one of the hearses as a second coffin was placed into the back

Mr Prahastono is embraced by loved ones after placing his children's coffins into the hearse

Mr Prahastono is embraced by loved ones after placing his children’s coffins into the hearse

The male truck driver, 48, was not injured and since undergone mandatory drug and alcohol testing. 

Seven News reported that Mr Prahastono was at work at the time and was reportedly alerted to the crash by his Apple Watch on Monday morning. 

A watch feature detects when a severe car crash occurs and can help connect to emergency services and notify emergency contacts.

Police are investigating how the crash happened and will prepare a report for the coroner. 

Investigators urged anyone with dashcam vision in the area or anyone with further information to come forward.

The force of the collision catapulted the engine of the mother-of-two’s  car 100 metres up the road, witnesses said, with a picture showing it lying by the side of the road.

In the hours following the Ivy’s death, Ms Sila’s sister and best friend Diana Effendi created a fundraiser and called on members of the community to help raise money for Mr Prahastono – who must now pay for three burials.

Mr Prahastono was comforted by a man as he walked to a car to drive to Narellan Cemetery

Mr Prahastono was comforted by a man as he walked to a car to drive to Narellan Cemetery

The grieving father and husband was overcome with emotion as he stepped into a black Mercedes limosine

The grieving father and husband was overcome with emotion as he stepped into a black Mercedes limosine

Mourners hugged outside the mosque after reciting Islamic prayers for the family

Mourners hugged outside the mosque after reciting Islamic prayers for the family 

‘We are putting a call out to all of our friends, family and wider community to raise money to cover the burial costs after the tragic passing of … Katrina and their beautiful two [children],’ Ms Effendi wrote.

‘This beautiful family resides in the south-west of Sydney and has loved everything about this area, dreamed of raising their children here and called this community their forever home.

‘Your prayers and any amount that 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 so far through the GoFundMe.

The GoFundMe for the family can be found here. 

A fundraiser has been launched to help Ilham Prahastono (right) to cover the cost of the funeral and rebuild his life

A fundraiser has been launched to help Ilham Prahastono (right) to cover the cost of the funeral and rebuild his life 

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