The injured dad of a girl killed in a tragic dirt bike crash alongside her cousin on Father’s Day joined heartbroken relatives and friends to say their emotional goodbyes at a funeral.
Zena Elhouli’s father Ali, 43, was pushed in a wheelchair with a white blanket over his legs as he joined hundreds of mourners.
Zena, 18, was killed alongside her 17-year-old cousin Ali El Houli when their dirt bikes crashed at their uncle’s property on Sunday night.
The two teenagers were killed when the bikes they were riding collided head-on during a family party in Grangefields.
Hundreds of mourners gathered at the Newport Mosque in Werribee on Thursday morning to say their farewells.
Zena Elhouli died at the scene, while Ali was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
He was unable to be saved.
Zena’s father was injured while trying to reach the teenagers on a quad bike.
It’s understood he lost control of the bike as he got close to the incident and was also injured. He was also taken to hospital, but his injuries are not life-threatening.
The teens’ uncle and the owner of the property, Omar El Houli, told the media on Monday that the incident was “heartbreaking”.
“We were driving down (the road) and we got out. My niece was on the floor dead and my nephew was also on the ground,” he said.
“I wanted to see who they were, it was my farm. I saw the motorbikes, I saw them, they were on the ground.
“I couldn’t imagine anything worse than what happened.”
Two young boys, aged six and 11, were also taken to hospital with serious injuries following the incident.
It’s not known how they were injured.
Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Lineham told Radio 3AW there was a Father’s Day party being held at the property at the time of the crash.
“The family – members at the party – they’re being uncooperative with police so inquiries are continuing but we’re asking for anyone to come forward.
“We don’t know how the two children were injured.
“It’s incredibly hard for police to do their job when people won’t provide the details.”
Sgt Lineham urged anyone who witnessed the accident to contact police.
“We do appeal to the family to come forward, regardless of how they feel about police,” he said.