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Three children miracle survivors of Kondinin crash that took lives of parents Cindy Braddock and Jake Day

Michael Traill, Syan Vallance & Claire Sadler The West Australian
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VideoMissing Perth couple found dead in crashed car alongside surviving kids

Three children are the miracle survivors of a crash that took the lives of their two young parents just kilometres from their Wheatbelt home early on Christmas morning.

Police say a family member found the wreckage of Cindy Braddock, 25, and her 28-year-old partner Jake Day’s Red Land Rover Discovery wagon on Corrigin-Kondinin Road shortly before 12pm on Tuesday.

Jake Day, Cindy Braddock, and their three children left a house in Northam at about 1am on December 25 to drive home to Kondinin. Unknown
Camera IconJake Day, Cindy Braddock, and their three children left a house in Northam at about 1am on December 25 to drive home to Kondinin. Unknown Credit: Unknown/7NEWS

It was found just 10 kilometres from Kondinin, where the family lived.

Police say the car crashed and flipped, killing the young couple, and trapping their children inside.

Their five-year-old daughter and two-year-old son managed to free themselves from the wreckage, however, their two-month-old baby brother was still inside the wagon when it was discovered.

All three had been stranded for more than 48 hours before they were finally found.

The injured children were evacuated by helicopter to Perth Children’s Hospital.

One of the children is in a serious condition with a significant head injury, while the other two children are understood to be in stable condition.

Jake Day and Cindy Braddock died after their car crashed just kilometres from home .
Camera IconJake Day and Cindy Braddock died after their car crashed just kilometres from home . Credit: Facebook/Facebook

Police say the family left a house in Northam about 1am on Christmas Day to drive 200km home to Kondinin.

Mr Day and Ms Braddock’s Land Rover was discovered on its roof on an embankment, about 10 metres off of Corrigin-Kondinin Road after distressed relatives reported the family missing to police at 3pm on Monday.

“An incident of this type is tragic, especially at this time of year,” Inspector of WA Police’s Wheatbelt district Tony Vuleta said.

“Our thoughts are with Cindy and Jake’s family. . .

News. Press conference. Inspector Tony Vuleta speaks to the media outside of the Northam Police Station regarding a double fatality in Kondinin which has left three children injured. Jackson Flindell
Camera IconNews. Press conference. Inspector Tony Vuleta speaks to the media outside of the Northam Police Station regarding a double fatality in Kondinin which has left three children injured. Jackson Flindell Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian

The young family had left Northam to spend Christmas with Mr Day’s mother, according to his cousin Michael Read.

“My understanding was they left Northam early so Jack could be with his mum on Christmas,” he told 7NEWS.

“(I’m) pretty broken, not only have I lost my cousin, but one of my close friends. . . basically, we’re just taking one day at a time.

Camera IconCredit: Ross Swanborough/The West Australian, Michael Read, cousin of the family who was involved in the Kondinin fatal vehicle accident, outside Perth Children’s Hospital, Perth. Ross Swanborough

Mr Read described the couple’s five-year-old daughter as “bright kid, smart, intelligent (who) absolutely loves cooking and playdough”.

He said the Wheatbelt communities will be rocked by news of Mr Day and Ms Braddock’s death.

“They were really good parents, always good to have a joke and a beer with,” Mr Read said.

“They are going to be pretty missed by everybody — not just family and friends but the community as well.

“She was one of those overprotective ones, who wouldn’t let them leave her sight and they’d always want mum.

“Jake was you know, a bubbly person and didn’t really care what people thought. He was just someone you could always get along with.”

Fatal car crash. Jake Day, Cindy Braddock, and their three children left a house in Northam at about 1am on December 25 to drive home to Kondinin.
Camera IconFatal car crash. Jake Day, Cindy Braddock, and their three children left a house in Northam at about 1am on December 25 to drive home to Kondinin. Credit: Unknown/7NEWS

Two RAC rescue helicopters, four St John road crews and five emergency services vehicles from three different volunteer units were sent to the scene of the crash.

Part of Corrigin-Kondinin Roads are still closed and motorists have been told to take an alternate route.

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