Schoolboy, 17, killed in horror car crash after a 90-year-old driver veered off the road excelled in maths and dreamed of becoming an aeronautical engineer – as his heartbroken parents speak out – By Antoinette Milienos
Source : dailymail
- Calvin Wijeweera was killed after he was struck by a car and pinned under a van
- The 17-year-old was walking from school in Sydney’s north west when he was hit
- A 90-year-old woman was driving a Mitsubishi when she collided with the pair
- A classmate was taken to hospital after suffering a head injury in the collision
- Police are investigating whether speed or a medical episode caused the crash
The grieving parents of a 17-year-old boy who was killed after being pinned between a car and a van in a horror accident have shared their heartache.
Calvin Wijeweera was walking from school with two other classmates in Carlingford, in Sydney‘s north-west, at about 11.20am on Thursday, when a car veered off the road and ploughed into the boys
The silver Mitsubishi Lancer Sedan, driven by a 90-year-old woman, mounted the kerb and smashed into a mechanic’s van in the driveway of a house – with Calvin trapped underneath the wreckage.
Emergency services rushed to Rembrandt Street, behind Carlingford Court shopping centre, where they found the boy pinned underneath the car.
Tragically, he was unable to be saved.
His devastated parents, Sandun and Anoma, visited the site of the collision on Friday afternoon to mourn their son.
‘I came here in Australia (from Sri Lanka) for a better life,’ Mr Wijeweera told The Daily Telegraph.
‘It’s unbelievable that happened to my son.’
The couple said their son excelled in maths and loved playing soccer and volleyball.
The Colombo-born teen, who was more than six foot tall, was due to start his HSC next year and had aspirations of becoming an aeronautical engineer.
Calvin’s 72-year-old grandmother, who is visiting from overseas, was also seen distraught alongside his parents at the crash scene.
The teenager has been described as a popular and active student of the Sinhalese language school in North Parramatta and would frequently participate in Sri Lankan events.
Friends, Carlingford High students, parents and teachers have paid tribute to the 17-year-old laying bouquets of flowers at the scene of the crash.
One of Calvin’s schoolmates, also 17, was taken to Westmead Hospital after suffering a head injury in the crash, while a third boy managed to jump out of the way and was uninjured.
NSW Detective Inspector Jason Hogan described the fatal crash as ‘harrowing’ for first respondents.
‘It was very traumatic for the first responding police officers and the ambulance that rendered first aid to both 17-year-old boys,’ Mr Hogan said.
‘It’s very harrowing when they turn up to situations like that. It is very distressing for the local community, the school and the family.
‘Unfortunately, a very, very tragic situation and at this time of the year it is going to be really, really detrimental to the [boy’s] family and friends.’
The driver of the sedan, a 90-year-old woman from Epping, suffered a leg injury and was taken to Westmead Hospital for mandatory testing.
Mr Hogan explained the test results would take several weeks and the driver was yet to be interviewed.
Mr Hogan confirmed the investigation is ongoing and will explore various lines of enquiry including speeding and whether the woman suffered a medical episode while driving.
‘People of all ages drive in New South Wales and they all need to take responsibility for their driving and they drive to the conditions of their licence,’ Mr Hogan said.
Police have yet to interview several key witnesses but have urged anyone who witnessed or has dashcam footage of the accident to contact Crime Stoppers.
Footage taken at the scene shows the front of the silver car smashed against the side of the van, which is owned by mechanic Eddie Kilic.
A white sheet could be seen pinned to the front of the van the Mitsubishi crashed into, which appears to be parked in a driveway on the other side of the footpath.
The video also showed what looked like an elderly woman being stretchered into an ambulance before the van drove away under lights and sirens.
Mr Kilic was repairing a four-wheel drive on the property when the accident happened.
He and his son rushed to the aid of the woman and the boys – but Calvin, who was underneath his van, had already died.
‘It’s just sad, it’s shocking,’ Mr Kilic told the publication
‘The boy was in shock and had a bit of bleeding so we stabilised him and got his school friends to keep him calm, keep him awake. The lady was in shock.’
Students rushed to help but Mr Kilic said ‘there was nothing we could do’.
The NSW Department of Education said counselling is being offered to students and families following Calvin’s tragic death.
‘We are deeply saddened by the death of a Carlingford High School student,’ a spokesman said.
‘Our thoughts are with the student’s family, friends and the entire school community at this difficult time.
‘The school is in contact with the families. Wellbeing support is being provided to students and staff, with additional counsellors deployed to the school today and tomorrow.’
