Charlotte Foster
Caring

Injured mother and son finally reunited after Daylesford crash

Two survivors of the Daylesford crash have been reunited in hospital, nearly two weeks after the tragedy that claimed the lives of five people. 

Among those killed were Vivek Bahtia and his 11-year-old son Vihaan, while his 36-year-old wife Ruchi and younger son, aged six, were injured and taken to separate hospitals.

Now, Ruchi and her six-year-old boy have been reunited at the Royal Children’s Hospital on Wednesday, after a gruelling 11 days apart. 

After the emotional reunion, the mother was taken back to the Royal Melbourne Hospital to continue treatment.

Members of their family told 7News that the mother and son still have a long way to go in their recovery, and are also devastated by the loss of their family.

To help the grieving family, a GoFundMe page was set up after the crash to help cover medical and funeral costs, with the page raising more than $140,000.

“We request the community to get behind the Bhatia family — Vivek and his 11-year-old son have lost their lives and Ruchi and her youngest son are hospitalised,” the fundraiser, organised by family friends Preet Singh and Ruby Kaur, states.

“It will be a long way to recovery and to get over this unbearable loss.”

Last week, Ruchi’s friend Ruby Kaur told 7News the mother didn’t see the car coming before it hit her family.

“They were enjoying their meal and then she woke up at the hospital. She says she does not know anything. She did not even see the car coming,” she said. 

Kaur said Ruchi has been asking questions about the crash, mainly about the driver.

“She’s asking: ‘Where is that person? Why did he do that?’,” Kaur said.

The driver, a 66-year-old man, has been questioned by police, but no charges have been laid as their investigation continues. 

Image credits: Facebook

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caring, Daylesford, crash, survivors, reunited