Mourners gathered at the Australian Islamic Centre in Newport, Melbourne, to farewell cousins Sarah El Hawli, seven, and Ossama El Hawli, 11, who died after the 4WD they were travelling in crashed near Parwan in Melbourne's west. The funeral drew an overwhelming turnout of family, friends and well-wishers, reflecting the shock felt across the local community over the loss of two young children in a single accident.

Sarah, the niece of the female driver, died at the scene, while Ossama, the driver's son, was airlifted to the Royal Children's Hospital with critical injuries but died that night. A first responder who tried to help at the crash site later contacted the family to describe the harrowing scene, including attempting to comfort a two-year-old survivor, and the family publicly thanked him along with paramedics, police and other emergency crews for their efforts. Sarah's school, Al Iman College in Melton South, said her death had deeply affected staff and students.