Family mourns five-month-old killed after SUV reversed over pram at Sydney mall

A five-month-old girl died after a white Renault SUV appeared to reverse over her pram in a busy car park at Minto Mall south-west of Sydney, prompting an outpouring of grief as family and friends gathered at the parents’ home.

Police said the driver, a 35-year-old woman who was known to the children, was at the scene after the crash on Monday afternoon. Seven ambulances responded to the call about 3:30 p.m.; paramedics performed CPR at the scene but the infant did not survive. The child’s five-year-old brother was injured and taken to Westmead Hospital, where he was later released on Tuesday.

Neighbors and visitors identified the bereaved parents as Daimen and Ella Standring, residents of Tahmoor, who are listed by local records as members of the Mittagong congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Family and friends were seen at their home on Wednesday evening, consoling the couple and placing toys, blankets and flowers near the front of the property.

A neighbour told reporters the couple had warned that their usually quiet cul-de-sac would be crowded as people came to pay respects. Inside and outside the house, observers noted signs of a young family: a child’s car seat left against a wall, a tricycle with a push handlebar and a ‘‘baby on board’’ sticker visible on a car parked in the driveway.

Witness accounts described the moments after the collision. Maholy Montaro, a Minto resident who said she was parked a few spaces away, told reporters she heard a loud bump and then a woman screaming. She said she could not immediately go to help because she had her own young children in the car and focussed on shielding them from the scene. She returned to the mall the next day to lay flowers near a nearby El Jannah restaurant, a short distance from where emergency services cordoned off the area.

Crime-scene tape kept onlookers away on Monday, and a torn pram was visible at the scene. Media reports said the 35-year-old driver was later seen distraught outside the El Jannah outlet. A white Renault thought to be involved in the incident was not at the family home when reporters visited.

Police investigators have not disclosed the identities of the children or released the name of the deceased. Authorities confirmed the driver was known to the children and said inquiries are ongoing to determine the circumstances of the vehicle’s movement in the car park.

The collision has prompted a local response, with neighbours and church members arriving at the family home to offer support. A woman sat on the front steps clutching a patterned baby blanket and a pink teddy bear, while others spoke quietly with the parents in the street.

Local hospitals and ambulance services provided immediate care on Monday. Westmead Hospital confirmed the older child was treated and discharged on Tuesday. Investigators continue to examine CCTV, witness statements and the scene to establish the precise sequence of events.

The incident has raised questions in the community about car park safety and supervision, and authorities urged anyone with further information to contact investigators. The family has declined to comment through media channels as they mourn the loss of the infant.