A father of seven who worked for Qantas as a traffic controller has been identified as the man killed in Tuesday’s horror crash at St Marys.
49-year-old Lual Awan Lueth was on his way to work at Sydney Airport when another car crashed into his vehicle on the Great Western Highway at about 4am.
The driver of that vehicle ran from the scene before being arrested. Investigations continue but police are expected to lay charges.
The police involvement in the incident is also subject to a review. Police were following, but not in pursuit of, the vehicle at the time.
A refugee from South Sudan, Lual Awan Lueth moved to Australia for a better life with his family.
The family is will entrenched in the Ropes Crossing Strikers FC fraternity, with three of Lueth’s sons playing for the team.
A GoFundMe page has been started by the club and its President Adam Hartas to raise funds for the family. Almost $12,000 has so far been raised.
Lueth was considered a war hero in South Sudan for his defence of Nyarweng land in the Sudanese civil war that began in 1983 and lasted 22 years.
Respected community member Deng Majak Piok said it was a tragic loss.
“His death has saddened us to lose such a great person at this earliest time,” he said.
“Late Lual was a great friend whom we shared the histories of our journeys. On behalf of Duk community in Sydney, I would like to send my heartfelt condolences to his family and extended family.”
Troy Dodds
Troy Dodds is the Weekender's Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia's leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.