Sleiman Darwiche: Tributes for Pennant Hills Road crash victim

A young tradie who died in a horror crash while returning from a fishing trip has been remembered as a ‘cheerful and beautiful soul’.

A young tradie who died in a horror crash on Pennant Hills Road this week has been remembered as a “cheerful” and “beautiful soul”.

Sleiman Darwiche, 22, from Granville, was a passenger in a Toyota HiLux with his friend driving when the vehicle was involved in a crash with a truck on Pennant Hills Rd near Copeland Ave about 3.30pm on Monday.

Paramedics tried to save him, but he died at the scene.

His cousin Lena Hassan said Sleiman had a “beautiful soul” and was affectionately known as ‘Sammy’ and ‘Slango.’

“Anyone who knew him knew that he was easy going, forgiving and cheerful,” Ms Hassan told The Hills Shire Times.

Tributes pour for Pennant Hills Rd crash victim Sleiman Darwiche. Picture: Supplied

She said she will never forget Sleiman picking her up every Eid morning.

“He took me to his house and we sang the whole way there,” she said.

Ms Hassan said Sleiman was on his way back from a fishing trip with his close friend when the incident occurred.

“He loved to go fishing and died on the way back home from doing what he loved,” Ms Hassan said.

Sleiman Darwiche, 22, of Granville, was a passenger in the Toyota HiLux. Picture: 7 News

Asked how his friend was doing, she said: “He is very upset and shattered.”

Another cousin Rayan Kay, who lives in Lebanon, said Sleiman was always “the highlight of the crowd.”

“He made us laugh even when we were at our lowest point,” Ms Kay said.

“He sacrificed his own happiness to please anyone and everyone around him.”

Ms Kay said the last time he saw Sleiman was just nine days ago when he was leaving Australia bound for Lebanon.

“We all gathered when he came to say his goodbyes to us,” Ms Kay said.

“It’s as if he knew it was the last time we’d see him.”

Lena Hassan and Sleiman Darwiche in happier times. Picture: Supplied

Sleiman Darwiche. Picture: Supplied

Ms Kay said Sleiman, who worked as a roofer, was very “ambitious.”

“He knew where he wanted to be in life,” Ms Kay said.

“Sleiman was working end on end to start paying off his mortgage so he could marry the girl he fell in love with after the loss of her father.

“We have a very big family over here in Lebanon and Australia,” she added.

“When they all get affected it shows just how much he had a positive influence on us all big and small.”

A Merrylands man, who was driving the Toyota HiLux, was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, driving while suspended and other dangerous driving charges.

The 22-year-old man, who is on bail, will face Hornsby Local Court on December 1.

Sleiman Darwiche’s burial will be held at 1pm at the Muslim section of Rockwood Cemetery on Thursday.