The family of a driver who died in a horrific crash that claimed four lives near Perth Airport have broken their silence a week after the incident.
Rabin Rawal, 43, was driving in the wrong direction along Leach Highway when his Toyota RAV4 hit a taxi and burst into flames.
Rabin Rawal.
Rawal died at the scene. Police are investigating whether the incident was a murder-suicide.
Taxi driver Sendeku Tesema, 58, was also killed, along with his two passengers, a 56-year-old woman and her 81-year-old mother who were believed to have been returning home from a holiday.
Rawal’s family released a statement through police on Monday, extending their “deepest condolences for all the families involved in this heartbreaking tragedy”.
“We trust that you can find strength and comfort surrounded by those who love and care for you,” the statement read.
“As the police investigation is ongoing, we are unable to make further comments. We request that our privacy is respected and we are given time to grieve for our loss.”
Rawal was a married father who lived in Cloverdale, worked for a government authority and was a member of Perth’s Nepalese community.
Last week, WA Premier Roger Cook described the incident as “horrific”.
“There’ll be more details, and they’ll be disturbing,” he said.
“Our hearts and thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who’s been impacted by this dreadful, dreadful crash, and we look forward to the police concluding their investigations.
“Early stages (indicate) the car was driven on the wrong side of the road deliberately, and that led to the tragic loss of five lives and I just want everyone to be careful this year when they’re out on the roads.”
Major Crash Detective Senior Sergeant Hugh Le Tessier said the crash had been “very confronting” for first responders.
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