Beach days, card games then grief: Young family’s tragedy strikes at the heart of close-knit community

3 months ago 17

The Neupanes were the kind of family who loved day trips to the beach, playing card games with family and spending time with friends.

Krishna and Sapana Neupane adored their Spider-Man loving son, his older sister and their close-knit family both in Victoria and overseas.

Krishna Neupane, his wife and three-year-old son tragically died in a crash in Stoneleigh on Tuesday.

Those who knew and loved them best are struggling to piece together their final, tragic moments – a family drive near Ballarat on Tuesday morning that left three members of the family dead.

Krishna, 41, and Sapana, 31, who lived in Armstrong Creek near Geelong after migrating from Nepal, were driving in Stoneleigh with their son when their car collided with a B-double truck. Both parents were killed, along with their three-year-old son.

Sapara’s mother was also a passenger in the car, and suffered critical injuries. She was flown to hospital where she remains in a stable condition. The Neupanes’ daughter was at school at the time.

Police said the family’s vehicle drove into the path of the truck after failing to give way at a stop sign about 9.30am.

Paying tribute to the family, Geelong Nepalese Association president Niraj Karanjeet told The Age the local community was in complete shock.

“This is the first time our community has experienced such a tragic event and so much loss,” he said.

“I have had hundreds of calls from people in our community asking what they can do to help.”

He said the pair’s older daughter was now in the care of close family.

“I am speaking with the Nepalese Consulate to inform family back in Nepal too,” he said.

“I saw her (Sapara) at a school art event last week. Lots of children in our community attend the same school. When I heard the news, I was completely shocked.”

The couple shared their love for each other online with photos of trips to the beach, and birthday wishes for their “Spidey-loving” son in May.

Karanjeet said the community would rally support for the family and friends.

Victoria Police said the truck driver was co-operating with police, and was shaken.

The deaths take Victoria’s road toll for 2025 to 251, up from 240 at this time last year. Eighteen children have been killed so far this year, six more than at the same time last year.

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