"He's got to live with this": Family of young brothers killed in crash speak out
The grieving mother of two boys who tragically lost their lives in a collision in the southern region of Sydney on Friday holds no resentment towards the driver, firmly believing that he could never have had any intention of causing harm to her young sons.
The victims, ten-year-old Xavier Abreu and his younger sibling Peter, aged nine, were both inside a Subaru Impreza sedan driven by their cousin Jimmy Brito, 33, when it collided with a tree in Monterey on Friday night.
In the aftermath of the accident, Brito's own nine-year-old daughter sustained minor injuries.
According to the police's account, Brito allegedly lost control of the Subaru, veering onto the wrong side of The Grand Parade before the fatal impact.
Brito faces charges of two counts of dangerous driving causing death and an additional count of causing bodily harm due to misconduct.
The family, stricken with sorrow, is resolute in their unity and firmly believes that the incident was a tragic mishap rather than an intentional act.
Brito's mother was too distraught to offer words herself, but her close friend Jodie Barnett-Howard shared with 7NEWS the depths of the family's anguish.
Describing the family's emotional state, Barnett-Howard expressed, “She’s devastated about the boys, obviously, there’s no mistaking that, but Jim would never intentionally hurt them. He loved those kids.”
Barnett-Howard further conveyed that Xavier and Peter were full of youthful humour and shared a passion for automobiles, nurturing a special bond with their cousin. She emphasised that the boys' mother does not hold her nephew responsible for the tragic event.
“They just want to be there to support him as a family," she said. "He’s got to live with this now."
Detective Inspector Jason Hogan, providing insight into the aftermath of the tragedy, described the crash scene as harrowing. He noted that the precise cause remained unknown but indicated an ongoing investigation into the potential involvement of street racing. Authorities also sought to locate the driver of a second vehicle seen in the vicinity.
Authorities are continuing their appeal for information regarding the driver of a grey sedan travelling in lane one of The Grand Parade. Brito is slated to appear in court in the upcoming week.
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