Sydney pram tragedy kills two children; parents speak out, community reacts
Consensus Summary
Two children, five-year-old Katherine and one-year-old Harry, were killed in Sydney’s Cabramatta on June 17, 2026, after being struck by an SUV while crossing a road with their mother, Sok Ram. The crash occurred near a school, and bystanders performed heroic efforts to rescue the children, including lifting the vehicle to free one trapped underneath and administering CPR. The children’s parents, Sok Ram and Vundy Tha, expressed profound grief but forgave the 56-year-old driver, who was arrested and underwent mandatory testing. A community memorial and a fundraiser raising over $115,000 have emerged in response to the tragedy, while police investigate the incident and appeal for witness footage. NSW Premier Chris Minns condemned the event, calling it heartbreaking, and schools in the area have offered support to affected families.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Two children, five-year-old Katherine and one-year-old Harry, were killed when struck by an SUV at the intersection of Cumberland Highway and Gilbert Street, Cabramatta, Sydney, on June 17, 2026, around 3:15 PM.
- The children’s mother, Sok Ram (33), and father, Vundy Tha, were present during the crash and spoke publicly about their grief, stating they forgive the driver.
- Bystanders collectively lifted the SUV onto its side to rescue one of the children trapped underneath, and others performed CPR on the children and their mother.
- The children were taken to Westmead Children’s Hospital but later died; their mother suffered minor injuries.
- A 56-year-old male driver was arrested, taken to hospital for mandatory drug and alcohol testing, and later released pending further inquiries.
- Police have appealed for CCTV or dashcam footage from the crash site and are investigating the incident with the Crash Investigation Unit.
- A memorial with plush toys, candles, and tributes was set up at the crash site, and an online fundraiser raised over $115,000 by June 18, 2026.
- Katherine was due to receive an award at kindergarten on June 18, 2026, and Harry had just started walking.
- NSW Premier Chris Minns called the tragedy a 'terrible event' and expressed heartbreak over the loss of the children.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The online fundraiser raised over $34,000 in a matter of hours before reaching $115,000.
- A small memorial included plush toys and a candle left by the community.
- Parents dropping off children at Cabramatta West Public School were in shock, and the school held an assembly at 1:20 PM on June 18, 2026.
- Police have spoken to four of the eight men who assisted at the scene by lifting the SUV.
- The memorial included two mandarins among the tributes.
- The fundraiser reached over $115,000 by Thursday afternoon (June 18, 2026).
- The crash occurred at Joseph and Gilbert Street, Cabramatta, as stated by ABC but not explicitly confirmed by SMH.
- The crash occurred at Joseph and Gilbert Street, Cabramatta, as per police reports.
- Sok Ram described feeling 'empty' and said, 'I want only my kids. My daughter, my son, my life.'
- The driver was described as uninjured in the ABC report, though SMH and Guardian do not explicitly state this.
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The SMH and Guardian state the crash occurred at the intersection of Cumberland Highway and Gilbert Street, while ABC specifies Joseph and Gilbert Street, Cabramatta.
- SMH and Guardian mention the crash time as approximately 3:00 PM, while ABC states 3:15 PM.
- SMH and Guardian report the driver was taken to hospital for mandatory testing and released pending inquiries, but ABC does not mention his release status explicitly.
Source Articles
‘Hearts broken into a million pieces’: Parents of children killed in pram tragedy speak out
The parents of a five-year-old girl and baby boy who died when they were struck by an SUV in Cabramatta have spoken about their unimaginable grief.
‘I wish it hit me’: Sydney mother shares anguish after children in pram hit and killed by car
Katherine, five, and brother Harry, 14 months, died on Wednesday after their pram was hit by an SUV in Cabramatta Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A tight-knit community is reeling after a kindergarten student and her baby brother were killed when an SUV collided with a pram shortly after school pick-up. The girl and her brother have been identified as Katherine, five, and Harry, aged 14 months – the only two children of 33-year-old mother Sok Ram. Continue reading...
'I forgive him': Heartbroken parents speak after children killed in crash
The heartbroken parents of two children killed when they were hit by a car in Sydney's south-west yesterday have spoken of their shock, saying they forgive the driver.