‘It’s pretty horrific, it’s very upsetting’: Emotional scenes at vigil for pub crash tragedy

Mourners gathered for a candlelight vigil on Wednesday night to pay their respects to the five lives lost while there was a sombre mood at the The Royal Daylesford Hotel as it reopened for the first time since the tragedy.

Emotional scenes have played out inside a Daylesford church packed with mourners who gathered to honour the five lives lost when a BMW ploughed into the beer garden of one of the town’s most popular pubs.

The hour-long candlelight vigil at The Anglican Parish of Daylesford, held only streets away from where Sunday’s tragedy unfolded, drew crowds both young and old who were left reeling following the horrific crash.

Attendees inside quietly embraced as they queued to place their own candle next to the five lit in honour of victims Pratibha Sharma, her husband Jatin Chugh, and daughter Anvi, Vivek Bhatia and his son Vihaan.

Glenlyon resident Sarah Raby told the Herald Sun she felt compelled to attend the memorial along with her son Fox, who was the same age as 11-year-old Vihaan.

“It’s pretty horrific, it’s very upsetting,” she said.

A vigil was held at Daylesford’s Christ Church. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“I think it’s really important to be together as a community after something like this has happened, there’s so many people who have been impacted by this.”

The mother of two, like so many, said she was deeply upset upon learning news of the two young families torn apart at the weekend.

“We’ve been pretty honest with the kids about it, my son was really keen to be here today and be part of the service,” Ms Raby said.

“You just have to explain that sometimes these things do happen and it’s incredibly sad.

“We were only half an hour away from being in the same area ourselves so it’s very hard to swallow. I feel so sympathetic to the driver of the car and whatever they were going through.”

Meanwhile, the Royal Hotel Daylesford reopened its doors to guests for the first time since the group were fatally struck on its doorstep.

It was largely a sombre mood outside the popular watering hole as both residents and tourists sat to drink while peering at the growing pile of floral tributes nearby.

Bouts of silence swept over the now-restored beer garden, broken only by the voice of support workers checking in on the welfare of guests or laughter from inside the sports bar.

Cautious parents, understandably on high alert, urged their young children to stay close and avoid edging too close to the road.

A young boy, throwing a stick to a cattle dog, regularly broke the ice among the small crowd when moments of silence or hushed whispers crept in.

“Is that one of the tables that got wrecked? It looks different,” the boy asked to anyone in earshot.

Pub owners Cameron Stone and Joel Morello could be seen wandering through the crowds to check on guests.

“We are still in shock and so incredibly saddened by the tragic and horrific incident that occurred outside our hotel on Sunday,” the pair said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Royal Daylesford Hotel owners Cameron Stone and Joe Morello. Picture: Brendan Beckett

“Of utmost importance to us right now is the health and wellbeing of every single person in our community.”

It comes as Melbourne lawyer Martin Amad, who is representing the unnamed 66-year-old Mt Macedon man behind the wheel, revealed on Wednesday his client is an insulin-dependent diabetic.

“My client has been interviewed by Victoria Police. He has not been charged with any offence. It’s anticipated that the investigation will take some time,” Mr Amad said.

Vivek Bhatia and his 11-year-old son both died when a car ploughed into the hotel, while wife Ruchi and their youngest son remain in hospital. Picture: Facebook

Pratibha Sharma, daughter Anvi and partner Jatin Chugh all died when a car drove through a beer garden at Daylesford's Royal Hotel.

“He is deeply distressed and feels great empathy with the families and friends of the victims and of the wider Daylesford community.

“My client is a 66-year-old family man who has no criminal history. He returned a negative alcohol reading at the scene. He is an insulin-dependent diabetic and required immediate treatment by paramedics at the scene. He remains in hospital.”

It comes as surviving victim Ruchi Batia had surgery on Wednesday and her son Abeer awaited MRI results.