A man who allegedly killed four children when he ran them over with a ute on a western Sydney footpath while three times over the legal blood alcohol limit will remain behind bars for at least another two months.
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Samuel William Davidson, 29, was on Saturday night arrested after allegedly returning a positive result in a roadside breath test and taken for a breath analysis.
He allegedly recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.150 - three times over the limit - and has been charged with four counts of manslaughter as well as dangerous driving occasioning death, dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving, drink-driving and other offences.
Davidson's case was on Sunday heard at Parramatta Bail Court. He did not appear in court and did not apply for bail, which was formally refused by magistrate John McIntosh.
He's scheduled to return to Parramatta Local Court on April 2.
Three of the children killed in Saturday night's incident in Oatlands were siblings and the fourth, aged 11, was their cousin.
Danny Abdallah, the father of the three siblings aged 8, 12 and 13, told reporters on Sunday he was heartbroken.
"I don't know what to say. I'm numb, probably that's what I feel at the moment. All I want to say is please, drivers, be careful," Mr Abdallah said.
"These kids were just walking innocently, enjoying each other's company ... and this morning I woke up and I have lost three kids."
Emergency services were called to the Bettington Road scene before 8pm on Saturday but four of the children died at the scene, police said.
A fifth child, 11, was taken to The Children's Hospital in Westmead in a critical condition but is now in a serious but stable condition.
Two other girls, aged 10 and 13, suffered minor injuries.
The group of seven children were on the footpath on their way to buy ice cream when police believe the ute mounted the kerb and hit them, The Sunday Telegraph reports.
NSW Ambulance Acting Superintendent Andrew McAlpine on Saturday evening said paramedics had arrived to a horrific scene.
"This is incredibly hard for the emergency services notwithstanding the losses that the families have sustained," Mr McAlpine told reporters.
"It's very, very difficult for police, for fire rescue, for paramedics to be confronted with such chaos and carnage."
NSW Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy told reporters on Sunday that the driver was charged after refusing to be interviewed by police but they were building a case against him after conversations with witnesses.
"I'd like to send the message out today that drink-driving, speeding, poor behaviour on the roads, will not be tolerated, Mr Corboy said.
"Tragedies do occur, but in my time in policing, this is one of the most tragic involving young children dying."
Acting Assistant Commissioner Jason Joyce said the driver remained at the scene until the police arrived and there were indications his passenger tried to help some of the children.
Distraught members of the Oatlands community on Sunday placed flowers at the scene of the tragedy.
Australian Associated Press
