The devastated mother of two boys killed in a crash in Sydney’s south on Friday does not blame the driver, believing he would never intentionally cause the young brothers harm.
Ten-year-old Xavier Abreu and his younger brother Peter, nine, were killed when a Subaru Impreza sedan driven by their cousin Jimmy Brito crashed into a tree at Monterey on Friday night.
Brito’s nine-year-old daughter suffered minor injuries in the crash.
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Police allege Brito lost control of the Subaru and crossed to the incorrect side of The Grand Parade before the impact.
The 33-year-old has been charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing death and one count of causing bodily harm by misconduct.
His heartbroken family says they are trying to stick together and believe the crash was a tragic accident.
Brito’s mother, who is also the boys’ aunt, was too distraught to speak, but her best friend Jodie Barnett-Howard told 7NEWS the family was “so broken”.
“She’s devastated about the boys, obviously, there’s no mistaking that, but Jim would never intentionally hurt them,” she said.
“He loved those kids.”
Barnett-Howard said Xavier and Peter were “funny kids” who shared a love of cars and loved their cousin, adding that the boys’ mother does not blame her nephew for the tragedy.
“They just want to be there to support him as a family … he’s got to live with this now,” she said.
The extended family, including Brito’s mother, say they have not been allowed to visit the 33-year-old, who was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition for mandatory testing after the crash.
“When he was in hospital injured, why couldn’t she go and see him,” Barnett-Howard said.
“She just wants to talk to her son.”
Detective Inspector Jason Hogan earlier described the crash scene as horrific and said police did not know why it happened, but they were investigating possible street racing and wanted to speak to the driver of a second car seen in the area.
“It is a particularly nasty crash where two innocent young children have lost their lives,” he said.
Police are continuing to appeal for the driver of a grey sedan that was travelling in lane one of The Grand Pde.
Brito will face court next week.
– With Amy Clements
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