Eh Htoo Wah, 12, remembered as ‘gentle, loving, kind’ boy after losing life in Kebaringup crash tragedy

A Great Southern refugee family have been left heartbroken after their 12-year-old son was killed in a crash which has left their other teenage son seriously injured. The two siblings were returning from a trip in Bremer Bay on Saturday night but tragically did not make it back to their Katanning home. Eh Htoo Wah, 12, was in the front seat of a Mazda SUV his brother’s girlfriend Thu Tay Paw was driving, while his brother Thoo Gay Pow, 18, was sat in the back. It was just before midnight as they were travelling north west on Gnowangerup-Broomehill Road in Kebaringup when the tragedy unfolded. Police said it is not yet clear if the teenager had lost control of the car but it left the road and smashed into a tree. Eh Htoo died at the scene from the impact, while the crushed car trapped his brother, who was seriously injured, in the back seat. After firefighters freed him, Thoo Gay was rushed to Katanning Hospital and later transported to Royal Perth Hospital where he remains in a serious condition. His girlfriend was left fighting for her life in ICU after being airlifted to RPH. “Our hearts are breaking,” sibling Chris Wah told The West Australian, recounting his last memory play-fighting with his youngest brother, Eh Htoo. “He was so gentle, loving and kind.” The Burmese migrant family, who had moved to Katanning in 2012, said they have not been able to sleep since receiving the heart-stopping phone call from the police in the middle of the night. Eh Htoo, who had just started year seven at Katanning High School, loved music and had dreamed of one day becoming a professional drummer. Mr Wah said he could only pray for the recovery of his brother and his girlfriend. Major Crash investigators spent Sunday examining the scene of the fatal crash. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report online.