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A baby girl has died two days after a horror highway crash that instantly killed her mum and older brother – as details emerge about the harrowing moment the father learned of the unfolding tragedy on his Apple Watch.
Katrina Sila, 34, and her two-year-old son Kai Prahastono were killed instantly when their silver SUV veered into a cement truck on the other side of the Hume Highway at Menangle Park, south-west Sydney, about 11.20am on Monday.
Ms Sila’s second child, three-month-old Ivy, was trapped in the wreckage for up to an hour. The baby was rescued and was airlifted to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in critical condition.
Sadly, little Ivy lost her fight for life early Wednesday morning.
Her dad Ian Prahastono (aka Ilham) was at work at the time and was reportedly alerted to the crash by his Apple Watch on Monday morning, Seven News reported.
An Apple Watch feature detects when a severe car crash occurs and can help connect to emergency services and notify emergency contacts.
Katrina Sila, 34, pictured with her husband, son Kai Prahastono and baby daughter Ivy, who lost her fight for life on Wednesday
Mr Prahastono had spent the last two days at his baby girl’s hospital bedside while struggling with the devastating loss of his wife and son.
Daily Mail Australia understands that both the grieving husband and his wife worked in finance.
Police said Ms Sila was heading to the family’s Denham Court home in Sydney’s south-west when the tragedy unfolded.
It is believed she attempted to do a U-turn from an emergency bay on the Hume Motorway when she slammed into the truck.
The male truck driver, 48, was not injured and since undergone mandatory drug and alcohol testing.
Police are investigating the crash’s circumstances and will prepare a report for the coroner.
Investigators urged anyone with dashcam vision in the area or anyone with further information to come forward.
Ian Prahastono (pictured with his wife Katrina) is grieving the loss of his wife and two children. He was reportedly alerted to the crash by his Apple Watch while at work on Monday
Pictured: Emergency services worked to get the trapped baby out of the car
The force of the collision catapulted the SUV’s engine 100 metres up the road
The force of the collision catapulted the SUV’s engine 100 metres up the road, witnesses said – with a photo showing it lying by the side of the road.
Ambulance NSW Superintendent Mark Gibbs said paramedics were faced with challenging and confronting scenes.
‘It is hard to think anybody did survive that wreckage – such a tragic and high-speed incident,’ he said.
He also believed the baby capsule Ivy had been strapped in had likely initially saved her life
‘It shows how child restraints work in such tragic circumstances,’ Superintendent Gibbs said.
A family photo posted online in January shows Ms Sila and her husband smiling as they cradled their son and newborn daughter in their arms.
Katrina Sila (left) had two children with her husband Ilham (right)
‘We are heartbroken to announce the sad passing of Katrina Sila and son Kai … a loving daughter, mother, devoted wife, sister and friend to many,’ a family statement said.
The family urged Mr Prahastono remain in everyone’s thoughts as he navigates such an ‘enormous personal tragedy’.
Islamic prayer groups on Facebook issued a post on Tuesday announcing Ms Sila – a Thai Muslim – and her son had passed away in the crash and asked followers to pray for baby Ivy.
The latest tragedy comes just days after a father and his two children were killed when their ute slammed into a tree at Coutts Crossing, south of Grafton in northern NSW on Saturday.
Lance Danks-Brown, 43, his son Kayden, 14, and daughter Sharna, 11, died at the scene.
Ivy was airlifted to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead where she clung to life for two days before succumbing to her injuries
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