Oatlands crash survivor, 11, still in a coma but condition improves

The 11-year-old boy who survived the Oatlands crash where an out-of-control driver allegedly killed four children has had an improvement on his medical condition but still has a long road to recovery. He has been in a coma since the February 1 crash.

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The little boy who survived the fatal car crash that killed three siblings has had an improvement in his medical condition.

The 11-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is still in a coma while recovering in hospital following the crash that took the lives of the Abdallah children, Antony, 13, and Angelina, 12, and Sienna, 8.

But his family said on Saturday his condition has improved to the point where he can open his eyes and look around.

The scene of Oatlands crash, where four children were killed. Picture: Steve Tyson

A family friend said the young boy had progressed in his recovery but still faced a long road ahead.

“He can open his eyes and he is starting to mumble words,” she said.

“There is still a long way to go in his improvement.

“He will have to get to a stage where he can have a brain scan to assess how bad the damage is but we are not (at that point) yet.”

The three Abdallah’s children were killed along with their cousin Veronique Sakr, 11, when they were hit by an out-of-control Mitsubishi Triton ute while they were walking to buy ice cream Bettington Rd, Oatlands at 8pm on February 1.

The man who was allegedly driving the ute, Samuel William Davidson, 29, is accused of driving three times over the limit with a blood alcohol reading of 0.15.

Leila and Danny Abdallah with their three children, who died in the February 1 crash.

He has been charged with 20 offences, including manslaughter, dangerous driving occasioning death, driving under the influence, and high-range drink-driving.

Police will allege that Davidson had been drinking throughout the day.

In the lead up to the fatal crash, he and a friend jumped in the ute to head to a service station up the road to withdraw money from the ATM.

Witnesses have told police Davidson was allegedly driving erratically moments before the crash, including tailgating a woman and trying to overtake someone at a roundabout.

There are fears the injured boy will never walk again with the extent of his condition still to be revealed.
He was so badly injured paramedics were forced to intubate him at the scene before taking him to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead under police escort.

Originally published as Oatlands crash survivor, 11, still in a coma but condition improves