‘I’m sorry you could not get the help’ locals mourn after woman, kids die in blaze
The father of two young girls who perished in a horrific car blaze in Cranbourne West is suffering grief “beyond comprehension”.
South East
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The father of two young girls killed in a suspected murder-suicide that also claimed the life of his wife is suffering “soul crushing pain”, a friend has told.
Jasmine, a registered nurse, died alongside her two daughters in last week’s horrific Cranbourne West car fire, which remains under investigation by the Arson Squad.
Family friend Jaison Mathew told how the girls’ father James is struggling to cope with the tragedy.
“(He is) in a state of total shock and grief that is beyond comprehension,” Mr Mathew said.
“The loss of his wife and his two young daughters has left him facing soul crushing pain.”
An online fundraiser has been launched to support James as he plans his wife and childrens’ funerals.
“While the circumstances leading to the gruesome tragedy are yet to be identified, friends close to the family would like to initiate this fundraiser to support James in his loss, and see him through this most difficult time in his life,” a statement on GoFundMe read.
“Any donations big or small would be a great blessing, and will help him organize the best possible farewell for his family – his wife and his two beautiful daughters.”
Last week members of the Lifespring Pentecostal church in Cranbourne East offered prayers for the surviving husband and father.
Pastor Wills Thomas offered his condolences to the man.
“Let us pray for brother James as we all know he is grieving because of the loss of his children and his wife,” Mr Thomas said on Sunday morning.
“This is a time that we can stand close to him and uphold him in prayers and comfort him.”
It is understood the family attended a service at the church recently.
The family moved from Melbourne’s north to Lyndhurst during the pandemic, where they built a new home.
It was within close range of where their Toyota corolla erupted into flames on Thursday about 7.55pm on the Western Port Highway.
The Victoria Police arson and explosives squad continue to probe the cause of the blaze.
Mr Thomas told the Herald Sun the family had “occasionally” attended services at the church in recent months.
“We have no knowledge of any circumstances leading to the tragedy,” Mr Thomas said.
“We do pray for and support the bereaved.
“We ask for privacy at this time and have no further comments to make.”
Two bouquets and children’s toys were laid at the scene of the incident by anonymous mourners.
A note accompanying the flowers said “I’m sorry you could not get the help”, signed by a local family.
POLICE SEEK WITNESSES
A Victoria Police spokesperson said emergency services were called to the Hall Rd intersection about 7.55pm on Thursday.
When they arrived they found three bodies inside a vehicle.
Arson and Explosives Squad detectives are investigating the fatal car fire.
“The exact circumstances leading up to the fire are still being determined, however police are not looking for anyone else at this time,” police spokeswoman Nat Webster said.
Investigators are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage of the fire.
Nearby resident Callum Simmons said he heard a bang about 8pm, just after the sun had set.
He initially thought his daughter had knocked on the wall or a bird had flown into the window.
But when he peeped through his loungeroom blinds, he saw a dark cloud of smoke spread across the sky.
“We walked out the front because we thought it was an accident with two cars or something like that, but when I got up there I saw the car parked in there and on fire,” Mr Simmons said.
“The neighbours came out, too, because we heard the bang, and we were saying it was unusual for the car to just start fire.
“We were just standing there. There were little explosions every now and then.”
No bodies were seen because the flames were too intense by the time neighbours congregated across the road, Mr Simmons said.
A truck driver appeared to be on the scene long before fire services arrived.
“There was a truck driver there. He had a flashing yellow light on the top and he was there from the time we went up. He must’ve seen it happen,” Mr Simmons said.
“It took forever for the firemen to get here. It was forever.
“When they got here, they were all coming down.”
Another onlooker approached the scene before deciding to hang back as the fire grew.
“I’ve seen a car go up (in flames) before, but nothing that intense,” he said.
The area, up to the Hall Rd intersection, has long been a hotspot for suspicious activity, according to nearby meat farmer Peter Fraser.
He had previously seen cars pull into the dirt driveway and sit there for long periods of time.
“A lot of people pull in there. They sit there for an hour or so and then they disappear,” Mr Fraser said.
“We do have funny things that happen here.
“We came out one night and there was just a bra hanging on the fence.
“We’ve been here for 20-odd years and it gets sillier and sillier.”
The high-speed stretch of road had a history of car incidents before the fire on Thursday night.
“There’s been bad accidents all the way along here,” Mr Fraser said.
“At night-time, there are drag races up and down here.
“There have been cars crash through the fences, into the paddocks.
“A semi-trailer once wound up halfway down the paddock. We’ve had them in trees down here and they’ve crashed and burnt and whatnot.”
Mr Fraser has cameras that provide vision of nearly two paddocks but did not pick up any footage of the blaze.
“I couldn’t see nothing. Usually the cows let me know if there’s something going on out here,” he said.
A passer-by commented on Facebook that she saw the torched vehicle on a dirt road as she approached the scene.
“Just drove past it right when it had just happened and saw a burnt-out car on a dirt road off the side,” she said.
Others said the intersection had “always been dangerous”.
The SES was called to the scene of the fire about 8.40pm to help police with lighting and tarps.
A statement issued by police early Friday morning said emergency services had first responded to reports of a car fire on Thursday night.
“Upon arriving at the scene on Western Port Highway about 7.55pm, attending police located three bodies inside the vehicle,” the statement said.
“A crime scene has been established and investigations are ongoing.”
Police are urging anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au.