8/20/2021- 9:20 a.m.
Mother, two children killed in fiery Melbourne car explosion
A mother and her two children have tragically died after their car burst into flames in Melbourne’s inner-north.
Police confirmed the 35-year-old Cheltenham mother and her two children, an eight-year-old girl and a 20-month-old boy, were killed when their car exploded in Parkville just before 10am today.
The mother was driving a Ford Territory south along Flemington Road near Grattan Street, when she lost control of the car, hitting a curb and crashing into a pole.
A young boy and a girl are among the people who have died in the explosion.
The woman had rammed a small car at the intersection of Gatehouse Street in the moments before the deadly crash occurred, police said.
Detective Senior Sergeant Gerard Clanchy said police believe the mother was on her way home after going to the pharmacy at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
“(The car) has lost control and collided into a tramways pole,” he said.
“Subsequently (it) burst into flames and unfortunately the occupants of the vehicle died as a result of the collision.
“It happened very quickly. The vehicle was engulfed in flames very quickly as well.”
The explosion unfolded in front of dozens of onlookers and motorists who could do nothing to save the trio inside.
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Witnesses ran towards the fireball, desperately trying to help the family.
“Someone said they heard a kid cry in there, screaming,” one witness told the police
“There was nothing you could do, there was so much smoke and flames.”
Detective Senior Sergeant Clanchy said he was at a “loss for words” over the tragedy.
Children among three people dead after Melbourne car explosion.
“It would have been a very tragic event for people to have witnessed,” he said.
“When it involves a mother and her two children – this is tragic. It’s hard to find words to describe what’s happened here today.”
The car was on fire and destroyed when emergency services arrived outside the Royal Melbourne Hospital about 10am.
The exact cause of the crash is yet to be determined, but police have ruled out the explosion being a “terrorism incident”.
“We haven’t been able to establish what made her lose control of that vehicle,” Detective Senior Sergeant Clanchy said.
Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.
Anyone who witnessed the incident is urged to contact 1800 333 000
