Monterey driver charged after boys, aged 9 and 10, killed in horror crash

WARNING GRAPHIC: The grief-stricken family of two little boys killed in a car crash has begged drivers to slow down. The driver of a Subaru WRX that slammed into a tree, killing two little boys and putting a young girl in hospital, has been charged.

The grief-stricken family of two little boys killed in a car crash has asked their friends and loved ones to slow down.

Family members shared a message with their loved ones on Saturday expressing their grief for the father of the two boys and asking people to send him their love — and to drive carefully.

“It’s not worth your life or anyone else’s just to get from point A to B,” they said.

“Unfortunately, he (the father) lost his boys last night, 9 and 12. If anyone wants to send him a text or call in the morning. You will likely see in the news of papers, it happened four streets down from our place … be safe people.”

The message comes as the driver of a Subaru WRX that slammed into a tree, killing the two little boys and putting a young girl in hospital, has been identified and charged. Jimmy Martin Brito, 33, of Beverly Hills, was charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing death and one count of cause bodily harm by misconduct.

Residents say he sound of the car smashing into the tree was “deafening”.

The driver of the car was taken to St George Hospital for mandatory testing after the incident.

Onlookers rush to the scene of the collision.

The driver’s defence lawyer, Fahim Arya, said he would wait to see if “police will lay additional charges or look to extend what [the driver] has already been charged with,” before commenting on the case.

“He is still in hospital and the proceedings have been adjourned for now,” Mr Arya said.

Brito could only attend a bedside hearing at St George Hospital, where he reamins under police guard.

The car went over the median strip, across two lanes of traffic and struck a tree in the suburb of Monterey on Friday night.

Police will allege the driver was speeding and may have been racing with a grey sedan in the seconds before the crash.

Shocking CCTV footage shows the cars travelling alongside each other on Grand Pde before the Subaru WRX carrying the children slammed into the tree.

In a cowardly act, the driver of the grey car took off, leaving the three young children injured in the back seat of the crumpled wreck.

Two children died in the horrific crash on Friday night. Picture: Seven News

The force of the impact was so strong the engine was flung out of the car and it shook windows in homes more than 200 metres away.

Hadi Sawan was putting his own son to bed when he heard the horrific sound of the crash. He rushed out his front door to see the smoking ­vehicle on its side.

“We ran to the right side of the car and we were able to get the little girl out,” he said. “On the other side we weren’t able to do that, it was jammed from the impact. I don’t even want to explain what I saw, out of respect to the families.”

The crash area on Saturday morning following the horrific incident. Picture: Julian Andrews

Officers at the scene of the crash on Friday night. Picture: Seven News

Mr Sawan said the girl cried and “screamed for her daddy” as emergency services tried to save the little boys.

“It’s heartbreaking … but I was also scared, if it weren’t for the tree the car would have ended up in my house or my neighbour’s house,” he said.

“I’ve never seen anything like it … After seeing (the car) I’m not feeling well, the image can’t be removed.”

Police later confirmed they were ­investigating whether the crash was the result of a drag race and that they were actively looking for the driver of the grey sedan.

“At this stage we’ll be seeking the assistance of members of the public to identify a grey sedan that was travelling in lane one around the time of collision,” a spokesman said.

Once the boys were freed from the car, they were taken to Sydney Children’s Hospital but tragically died.

The nine-year-old girl was also taken to Sydney Children’s Hospital with minor injuries.

Flowers, cards and teddies were laid at the scene of the crash. Picture: Daily Telegraph/ Monique Harmer

Mr Brito also suffered serious injuries and was taken to St George Hospital, where he also received mandatory drug and alcohol testing.

Local resident Christine left flowers at the scene for the two little boys, saying she was devastated by the incident.

“I feel for them and their families,” she said.

“People speed along this road all the time, but for it to end like this … just terrible.”

Independent Bayside Council councillor Heidi Lee Douglas advocated for the immediate installation of speed cameras on Grand Pde and Bay St and the dedication of more policing resources in the St George area.

“Additionally we ask for you to honour your government’s commitments to begin noise cameras trials in Bay St and Sandringham by the end of 2023, with a commitment to revise the relevant legislation necessary to implement wider noise camera use across the state by the end of 2024,” Ms Douglas wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday.

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