The tragic passing of a young woman, known for her compassionate spirit, has cast a somber shadow over her community. Sayyida Nafeesa Zulfikar, aged 21, was on her way to work when an unforeseen accident ended her life.

As she drove along the Hume Freeway in Somerton, Melbourne, a metal pole fell onto her silver Honda. This pole had been dislodged after a red sedan collided with a truck, setting off a chain of events that led to the devastating incident.

Despite the swift response of paramedics who rushed to the scene, their efforts to revive Zulfikar were in vain. She succumbed to her injuries at the site of the accident.

Her father, Zulfikar Mohamad Shariff, spoke lovingly of his daughter, highlighting her nurturing and caring nature, which touched many lives during her short time with us.

Her father Zulfikar Mohamad Shariff remembered his daughter as a caring young woman.

“She’s always there to help anyone. She holds our family together,” he said.

“She was just driving to work, thinking about what she’s going to do for work and how she is going to help others.

“Everyone keeps talking about how much of an impact she had in their lives.”

Shariff said his wife and five sons have been left to prepare for the bright young woman’s funeral tomorrow.

“It’s tough. It’s painful for all of us,” he said.

“The decision that someone else made caused us this pain and we will have to go through this pain for the rest of our lives.”

Zulfikar had been working as an admin and enrolment officer at My College in Dallas.

The Islamic primary school today paid tribute to the 21-year-old, who they said would be “cherished for her warm presence, welcoming nature, and the genuine care she extended to every family, student and colleague”.

Police are still investigating exactly what caused the crash.

The truck driver was taken to hospital in a serious condition, while those in the red sedan weren’t injured.

No charges have been laid.