THE families of the three Pietermaritzburg locals involved in Friday’s horror crash, which left two dead and two injured, one critically, said they are doing their “best to get through the tragedy”.
What started as a night out with friends ended in tragedy last Friday when a car carrying four people crashed into a Parkside Mansions apartment.
Shaylen Pillay was declared dead upon impact while Dhiren Dhilraj, Shikaar Dhilraj and Elroy Smith were rushed to various Pietermaritzburg hospitals in critical conditions.
Shikaar died shortly after arriving at hospital.
Capetonian Elroy Smith, who started work in Pietermaritzburg in January this year and was injured in the horror crash, is making a speedy recovery in Pietermaritzburg’s Mediclinic.
Family of Dhiren and Shikaar said they were trying to cope with the loss of a loved family member as well as trying to be positive for Dhiren.
Dhiren sustained severe neck and brain injuries in the crash and was airlifted to Albert Luthuli Hospital in Durban on Friday for surgery.
A family member, who would not be named, said the doctors had told the family that the surgery had gone well, however, there had been no change in his condition.
“He is critical but stable. Everyone is just trying to be positive and we are all hoping he will pull through.”
He said the family of Dhiren and Shikaar, who are first cousins, only had fond memories of the two to help get them through this “difficult time”.
Pillay and Shikaar both had their funerals on Saturday with their families paying their last respects to the other.
Messages left on Pillay’s Facebook page were full of love and respect for the well-known local.
Friend Alecia Ally posted her special memories of Pillay.
“I love you Shaylen Beterz Pillay … I miss you so much hun … How could you leave me ?! I’m not ready to let you go … my heart has always been loyal to you and it shall always remain loyal to you. This I promise you. Even though you not with me, I still feel you around and you are still my boyfriend. Please stay with me … Please come into my dreams every night so it would feel like I’m still making memories with you. I miss you so much. Rest in peace. I’ll be waiting for you,” she said in the post
