The 60-year-old farmworker, identified as Arsenio Liano, was on his way home on Saturday afternoon when his wagon collided head-on with a ute carrying a family from Towrang.
The family, including two children, was taken to Mildura Base Hospital following the incident to be checked as a precaution.
The crash occurred at about 3pm on Sturt Highway, 15 km west of Euston, according to the police.
“[Last Saturday] was his day off. He went to Mildura to buy some stuff and exchange a gas bottle refill. He left Robinvale at 10am and headed back home at around 3pm - that's when the accident happened,” Julio Palangdosan, the victim’s cousin, told SBS Filipino.
“He might have fallen asleep at the wheel or he has a medical condition, we don’t know yet,” he said.
Police are still investigating the cause of the crash.
The victim’s daughter, Jovielyn Liano, said their family was in shock.
“We found out about the accident last Saturday and we didn’t tell our mum straight away,” she said crying.
Jovielyn recalled the last time he spoke with his dad before the fatal accident. Being away from his family in the last eleven years, his father was hoping he would still be able to see his family again.
The farmworker was on his way back to Robinvale when his wagon collided with a ute. Source: Supplied by Julio Palangdosan
“We still can’t believe the accident happened. We were hoping he would still be able to meet his grandchildren here in the Philippines.
“My two youngest siblings were only seven and eight when he left the Philippines. Eleven years later, they are now grown-ups… they were too young when they last saw our dad,” she said.
Jovielyn said the heartbreaking loss was made more difficult because their family cannot afford to travel to Australia nor pay for the cost of repatriating their father’s remains.
The family was appealing for financial help so they could bring their father’s remains back home and say goodbye to their father for the last time.
