Baby boy dies in hospital after being struck by airbag during road accident

A baby boy has tragically died in hospital after being struck by an airbag in a minor car crash in Sydney’s south west on Monday.

An 11-month-old has died in hospital following a minor car crash in south west Sydney on Monday.

About 5.50pm on Monday emergency services were called to Lurnea after reports a BMW 320i had crashed with a Mercedes CLK500.

Zachariah Wafta was struck by an airbag and flown to Westmead Hospital with critical injuries, and tragically died last night.

Police believe the child was sitting on his father Pete Watfa’s lap behind the wheel at the time of the accident, rather than being properly restrained in a child seat.

“The injuries to the 11-month-old were consistent with being struck by the airbag and that leads us to the conclusion that the child was on the lap of the driver,” NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Mick Corby told reporters.

The collision triggered the BMW driver’s airbag, inflicting critical head and facial injuries on the baby.

“(The driver) was panicked, yelling out get the baby’s mother! Get the baby’s mother!” witness Lyn Carlin told 7 News.

The child lay lifeless on the grass along a Lurnea street. Source: 7News

Footage captured after the incident showed the mother running down the street to where her child was laid out on the grass.

The child was described as “looking like a doll” as he was treated by paramedics.

He was flown to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead.

Police allege the crash was caused when the Mercedes drivers, a 32-year-old man, crossed over onto the wrong side of the road, hitting the BMW driven by a 31-year-old man.

Both men were uninjured and were taken to Liverpool Hospital for mandatory testing.

Officers from the crash investigation unit are continuing their inquiries into the events leading up to the crash.

Police said it was possible that both drivers could be charged but didn’t elaborate on what the charges could involve.

Investigators noted that the car was fitted with a child seat at the time of the incident but it is believed it wasn’t in use.

More than 6000 tickets were issued to drivers last year for unrestrained children.

Any witnesses that have not yet spoken to police, or anyone with information or dashcam footage, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police will investigate whether the baby boy was sitting on his dad's lap when the airbag deployed.

Originally published as Baby boy dies in hospital after being struck by airbag during road accident