Three Filipinos and a former national were among the crash victims in the vehicular accident on 11 August in Mount Marlow, Queensland located around 1,100 kms from Brisbane.
Pregnant mother Mary Joy Estrada Dela Cruz, 35, and Marvic Estrada, 60, died when a Nissan Navara in which they were travelling veered onto the wrong side of Shute Harbour Rd in Mount Marlow, near Airlie Beach, and crashed into an oncoming Toyota LandCruiser on Sunday.
When reached for comments by the Australia-based media outlet Philippines News Perth, the Philippine Embassy through Consul General Aian Caringal said that the Philippine Embassy and the Consulate have reached out to, and are currently in coordination with, the affected overseas Filipinos, with the help of their next-of-kin and local Filipino community leaders in Townsville, Queensland, in processing the requests for financial assistance through the DFA’s Assistance to Nationals (ATN) Fund, including repatriation and possible medical expenses, among others.
Dela Cruz’s unborn child did not survive.
The elderly Estrada and her husband were vacationing in Australia from Davao City. The holiday that was meant to create cherished memories instead turned into grief. Mary Joy’s husband and father were also critically injured in the accident.
The four were reportedly making their way to visit the young couple’s soon to be built home in Cannonvale.
De La Cruz’s parents were visiting from the Philippines and “seeking to create cherished memories” with their daughter and son-in-law before the tragic incident.
Loved ones described the mother and daughter as “angels” and “lovely people”.
The Whitsunday community have rallied around the family, with a GoFundMe page raising funds to cover the cost of funeral arrangements and medical bills.
“As they navigate through this profound loss, we hope to come together to offer our support. The financial strain of funeral arrangements, medical bills, and the sudden loss of their loved ones is overwhelming,” organiser Maria Cos wrote.
“Our goal is to provide some relief and show them that they are not alone.”
The page had raised nearly $16,000 on Tuesday evening.
