Left: Marilyn Hedrich was killed in this crash last week. Her baby son was lucky to survive the horrific collision. Picture courtesy Keith Pakenham, CFA.By Rebecca Fraser
A HORRIFIC car crash has left three young Endeavour Hills children, including a four-month-old baby, without a mother.
Marilyn Hedrich, 33, died on Wednesday night last week, 20 September, following a four-car collision in Police Road, Springvale.
A 14-year-old boy managed to rescue Mrs Hedrich’s baby son Matthias, after crawling into the back of the family’s four-wheel-drive, that had flipped over after being hit by another commodore travelling at high speed.
The boy then spoke to the trapped mother, assuring her that her baby was safe, until help arrived.
Mrs Hedrich later died in hospital.
Grieving husband John Hedrich this week said no words were good enough to describe his wife and he was still deeply shocked by her death.
Mrs Hedrich had two daughters from a previous marriage, Nynnoshka, 8 and Niquisha, 6.
Mr Hedrich said they had planned to have another child together.
The pair met as children in India but did not marry until 2004 when Mr Hedrich moved to Australia.
Mrs Hedrich had dropped her two girls at her mother’s Richmond home and was returning to Endeavour Hills when tragedy struck.
Her distraught mother Marie Bowman said she would now move to Endeavour Hills to help care for her three grandchildren.
“She was a great mother, a wonderful daughter and a great wife,” Mr Hedrich said.
“She worked so hard for her children. Just when everything was going beautifully and life was looking good, God came and took her away from us.”
Ms Bowman said her daughter was very happy in her new marriage.
“I have never seen her so happy. Now that happiness is gone,” Ms Bowman said.
The family will hold a funeral on Saturday following the arrival of relatives from India and the United States.
Mr Hedrich urged drivers to take more caution on the roads following the horrific collision.
“A moment or two is all it takes to claim an innocent life and cause families to break up and experience so much devastation,” he said.
He also praised the 14-year-old Springvale boy who brought his son to safety.
Mr Hedrich met the boy last week and said they would always keep in touch.
“He’s looking forward to seeing Matthias grow up,” Mr Hedrich said.
“He said he is always going to be there for him.”
The 40-year-old driver of the Commodore sustained critical injuries. Police said his vehicle also was involved in a collision with two other cars and the two other motorists received medical attention.
The Major Collision Unit is still investigating the crash.
