Two children killed in a horror rollover crash west of Melbourne have been identified as harrowing details of the crash emerge.

Sarah El Hawli, 7, and Ossama El Hawli, 11, were on their way home from school when the 4WD they were travelling crashed near the intersection of Nerowie and Parwan-Exford roads in Parwan shortly before 4.30pm on Tuesday.

Sarah died at the scene. Ossama was airlifted to The Royal Children’s Hospital with critical upper and lower body injuries but died overnight.

The two cousins were among seven children in the eight-seater 4WD when the vehicle rolled and came to rest on grass between the road and a paddock, with four other children and a woman treated in hospital.

The pair both attended AI Iman College in nearby Melton South, where Sarah had received a student of the week award earlier that day.

‘She was the smartest kid at school,’ a relative told The Age.

‘She was an angel… she is an angel now.

‘I’m just shocked, I can’t believe she’s gone. We tried to go there, and [police] wouldn’t let us see her, but they let my daughter, she saw her.’

Sarah El Hawli, 7, and Ossama El Hawli, 11, died and five other children were injured when a 4WD crashed and rolled in Parwan, west of Melbourne on Tuesday afternoon

A boy airlifted to hospital with critical injuries died overnight

Scattered debris remained at the crash scene on Wednesday

The school declined to comment, saying that its focus was on supporting the impacted families.

Sarah and Ossama were also young members of the Australian Islamic Centre.

The cultural and learning institute released a heartbreaking tribute on Wednesday. 

‘Their loss has deeply affected our entire AIC community,’ a statement read.

‘Our hearts are with their parents, family and loved ones as they face an unimaginable loss.

‘Our immediate focus is on supporting the family through this incredibly difficult time and assisting with the funeral and burial arrangements.’ 

The centre urged everyone to allow the family the privacy and space they need to grieve.

‘We pray that Allah Us surrounds both children with His infinite mercy, grants them the highest ranks of Jannah, and grants their parents and loved ones immense patience, strength and comfort,’ it added.

Police have ruled out speed, drugs and alcohol as contributing factors in the crash

Abandoned children’s belongings remained at the scene on Wednesday

Pieces of debris, including abandoned belongings and broken glass, remained scattered at the crash site on Wednesday.

The five other children in the 4WD, including a female toddler, were transported to hospital in stable conditions. 

The 34-year-old female driver was also taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition.

The crash sparked a major emergency response, including two specialist Air Ambulance Victoria helicopter crews, two mobile intensive care ambulance paramedic crews and seven advanced life support paramedic crews. Multiple fire crews also attended.

Photos showed distraught family members and witnesses watching on as first responders treated the injured.

‘From my understanding, the scene was quite hectic, people everywhere, witnesses who witnessed it, they stopped and rendered assistance,’ Detective Sergeant Tony Gentile told reporters.

‘Obviously, with seven children, they were distressed and they were cared for by paramedics, members of the public and police.

‘This is just a really sad set of circumstances, very sad. We just ask the public to drive to the conditions and be mindful of their surrounds.’

The crash sparked a major emergency response

Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives have launched an investigation the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Police have ruled out speed, drugs and alcohol as contributing factors.

No charges have been laid.

Anyone who witnessed the crash, or has CCTV, dashcam footage or information, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

The latest tragedy takes Victoria’s road toll to 173 lives lost this year.