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Accident Reconstruction News Article Boys drown trying to escapeFrom: By Matt Cunningham, Mark Buttler and Anthony Dowsley Tyler (l) and Jai Farquharson THREE young brothers struggled to free themselves from a car in dark, freezing water as it sank to the bottom of a dam. The bodies of Jai Farquharson, 9, and brothers Tyler, 7, and
Bailey, 2, were found free of their seatbelts when the family's sedan was
pulled from 7m of water. Their father, Robert, 36, was driving the car when it ran off the Princes Highway near Winchelsea. He escaped but couldn't save his little boys. "We don't know for sure, but our belief is that one of the children has released them all from their seatbelts," investigating officer Acting Insp Mick Talbot said yesterday. "The younger one, Bailey, was in a proper child restraint . . . that had been undone, so we believe that the children have undone their seatbelts but have been unable to get out of the car." Acting Insp Talbot said the Holden Berlina ploughed through a wire fence then 50m down an embankment into the dam. The car bounced across the surface of the dam then sank rapidly when Mr Farquharson opened his door to escape. The Farquharsons are a pioneering family of Winchelsea, 120km southwest of Melbourne, and the deaths hit the community hard. The boys were going home to their mother, Cindy Gambino, after dinner in Geelong. Mr Farquharson, whose saturated mobile phone would not work, flagged down a passing motorist who drove him to his ex-wife's home about 8km away, where the alarm was raised. Ms Gambino and others rushed to the scene, but could do little to help. Police said the Berlina was not speeding on the 100km/h stretch of road and Mr Farquharson had not been drinking. There are no witnesses and police have been unable to interview the father yet. Crash reconstruction techniques and the account of Mr Farquharson will be crucial in piecing together what happened. Acting Insp Talbot said a blood sample would determine whether drug use was a factor, but at this stage the incident was being treated as a tragic accident. Mr Farquharson was released from Geelong Hospital late yesterday, and police hope to interview him today. Police have asked for anyone who saw the white Holden on the Princes Highway between Geelong and Winchelsea in the period before the tragedy to come forward. Ms Gambino was under sedation at the Winchelsea Hospital last night. She and Mr Farquharson have been separated for about a year, and the boys were on an arranged access visit. Cindy Gambino's uncle Tillio said the brothers were "really top little boys". There was "never a dull moment with them". "They were so cute. What can you say?" Mr Gambino said. Mr Gambino said both parents thought the world of their boys and that Mr Farquharson was a fussy father who took a lot of care with them. Ms Gambino's next-door neighbour, Kathy Carter, said the boys were lovely children, always playing football together. "I just can't comprehend what's going on," she said. "We always see Jai opening up the garage when it's time for school, and it didn't happen this morning. My son is in hysterics. "I can't imagine what it's like for Cindy." Students and teachers from Winchelsea Primary School, which Jai and Tyler attended, are being offered counselling. "They are two gorgeous kids that are a loss to our community and a loss to the world," principal Judi Fallon said. Surf Coast Shire councillor Lindsay Schroeter said a member of the Farquharson clan was involved in building the town's historic stone bridge, which was constructed in the 1860s. Barney Parsons, 83, said he had known Robert Farquharson for 31 years, and the deaths were like losing members of his own family. "They are just such highly respected kids. "I'm absolutely devastated by it all. "I haven't been able to think straight," Mr Parsons said. Deputy State Coroner Iain West visited the scene of the accident yesterday. ### |
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