Support for Armstrong Creek girl after parents, brother killed in Stoneleigh crash nightmare

The heartbroken sister of a man killed alongside his wife and young son in a ‘catastrophic’ collision has opened up on support efforts for a five-year-old daughter left behind.

Armstrong Creek couple Sapana Neupane and Krishna Hari Bhandari and their son, Ruben, were the victims of a horror crash in Stoneleigh, leaving a five-year-old daughter behind.

The heartbroken sister of a Geelong man killed alongside his wife and three-year-old son in a catastrophic truck crash has opened up on the “unimaginable tragedy”.

Sirjana Sharma said the sudden loss of Armstrong Creek couple Krishna and Sapana Bhandari, 41 and 31, and their son, Ruben, had shocked all who knew and loved them, with attention now turning to providing for their five-year-old daughter left behind.

“In the midst of this heartbreak, my brother’s young daughter remains with us, and we are doing everything we can to provide her with love, stability, and the support she needs during this difficult time,” she said.

Krishna and Sapana Bhandari and their son, Ruben, were killed in a crash near Stoneleigh.

The Armstrong Creek primary school student’s world has been turned upside down after the car her family was travelling in collided with a truck on Eurambeen-Streatham Rd.

Ms Bhandari’s badly injured mother, who was flown to the Alfred Hospital in a critical condition, was now “out of danger” but faced a long recovery and ongoing medical care, according to Ms Sharma.

Fundraising efforts have been launched in an effort to assist the pair.

“We are reaching out for financial help to assist with his (Krishna) mother-in-law’s medical expenses and to support my late brother’s daughter as we navigate this painful journey of rebuilding our lives,” she said.

Armstrong Creek couple Sapana and Krishna Bhandari and their son, Ruben, were the victims of the horror crash that has torn the heart out of a tight-knit community.

“Any contribution — no matter how big or small — will make a meaningful difference and will be deeply appreciated by our family.

“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness, compassion, and support during this time of unimaginable loss.”

A GoFundMe has already raised more than $3000 and has a target of $100,000.

Friend, Santosh Parajuli, who has also provided emergency relief funds to assist with funeral and other expenses, said “the sudden and unimaginable loss” had gutted the community.

Another friend, Niraj Karanjeet, who has known the family since 2017, said the family “embodied a wonderful community spirit” after migrating from Nepal.

The scene was described as “catastrophic” by major crash police. Picture: 9News

“They were incredibly caring,” he said.

“I also pray for the speedy recovery of the injured grandmother.”

Major crash detectives have launched a probe into the collision, with police suspecting the vehicle passed through a stop sign before the crash.

Victoria Police Inspector Craig McEvoy, who described the scene as “catastrophic”, said the truck driver was shaken up but suffered only minor injuries.

The car was crushed from the impact of the crash.

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Originally published as Support for Armstrong Creek girl after parents, brother killed in Stoneleigh crash nightmare