Wyndham residents are being invited to what’s likely to be an emotional vigil this evening in memory of two local families devastated by Sunday’s tragedy at Daylesford.
Two people from Tarneit and three from Point Cook, who were holidaying together over the unofficial Melbourne Cup long weekend, were killed when an out-of-control SUV ploughed into a beer garden outside the town’s Royal Hotel.
Pratibha Sharma, of Point Cook, her partner Jatin Chugh and their daughter Anvi, 9 died at the scene, along with Tarneit man Vivek Bhatia and his 11-year-old son Vihaan.
Bhatia’s 36-year-old wife, Ruchi, and six-year-old son, Abeer, were taken to hospital with serious injuries.
The driver of the SUV, a 66-year-old man from Mount Macedon, has been interviewed by police and remains in hospital.
His lawyer, Martin Amad, has revealed the man is an insulin-dependent diabetic who has no criminal history.
“He returned a negative alcohol reading at the scene,” Mr Abat said.
“He is an insulin-dependent diabetic and required immediate treatment by paramedics at the scene. He remains in hospital.”
Around 100 people attended a memorial service for the victims at Daylesford’s Christ Church late Wednesday afternoon.
Nearby, outside the hotel, locals and visitors to the town continued adding to a makeshift memorial made up of floral tributes and teddy bears.
Organisers of the Point Cook vigil, which will be held at Saltwater Reserve, said it would allow the Wyndham community to support one another and remember those they have lost.
Meantime two separate GoFundMe pages have been established to provide financial help to the families of the vivtims.
The fundraiser for Vivek, Vihaan, Ruchi and Abeer has raised more than $95,000 since it went live on Tuesday.
The https://gofund.me/c672986fother, for Pratibha, Jatin and Anvi, was set up yesterday and currently stands at $18,000.
How you can support those impacted by the Daylesford tragedy
Pt Cook vigil, 7.30pm – Saltwater Reserve, Saltwater Boulevard, Point Cook, access via Gate 2
Fundraiser for the Bathia family: https://gofund.me/aec6071f
Fundraiser for the Sharma family: https://gofund.me/c672986f
