3 Sisters Were Headed Home When Car Crashed. Only One Survived (Exclusive)

Three sisters in their 20s were traveling home from a cousin’s graduation party in South Africa when their vehicle crashed earlier this month. Two of the young women later died and their older sister was seriously injured, but managed to call their mom from the scene with the help of a stranger. 

Their uncle tells PEOPLE that his sister “is really battling with this one.”

“Two of her three girls have now gone,” he says.

Janene Moodley, a 49-year-old single mom, lived with daughters Cassidy, 22, Connor, 24, and Storm, 27, in Johannesburg. Their bond was a powerful one, propelling them forward as they navigated their individual goals.

“These were bubbly little personalities, loved by everybody,” says their 54-year-old uncle Lance Poonawassy. “They were well on their way to reaching their dreams.”

The siblings were “seriously adamant” about attending their cousin Keeran Poonawassy’s college graduation party in Cape Town — the first big family gathering since their grandfather’s death three years prior.

“What an awesome time, lots of fun, tears of joy,” says Lance of his 27-year-old son’s celebration on Friday, Sept. 12. But just two days later, the family was living a nightmare.

That Sunday morning, the Moodley sisters headed back to Johannesburg so they could return to their respective jobs. Cassidy, a full-time teacher, was just six months away from attaining her degree in education, while Connor had recently been promoted in her role as a personal assistant. Meanwhile, Storm, who works in finance, had just finished up a contract.

Janene, who was unable to attend the party, spoke with the trio on the phone about what they wanted to eat when they got home. Just 30 minutes later, when they were about halfway through their trip, Lance says the vehicle blew a tire while Connor was driving.

“Unfortunately, the car veered off the road and it then rolled about 300 meters,” he recalls of the crash that occurred not far from Britstown in Klein Karoo, a scenic valley surrounded by mountains. “All three of them were actually flung out of the car.” 

The South African Police Service did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Visiting the scene later was jarring, says Lance. The road was straight, with no bends, and he says rubber marks can be seen where the tire burst and Connor tried to brake.

It took about 40 minutes after the crash before a passerby came across the scene, according to their uncle. 

The younger sisters were unconscious, but Storm was able to speak.

“She could give her mom’s cell phone number, and they actually made the call from her phone to her mom about 45 minutes after the crash had happened,” says Lance. 

He was the first person Janene spoke to after the phone call that shocked her to her core. “She was totally distraught,” Lance remembers. “She was in absolute shock.”

None of the Moodley sisters’ family members were nearby. Lance, Janene and other loved ones traveled hours to reach the young women, but Connor and Cassidy died en route to the hospital, according to their uncle.

Storm survived but suffered bruising and cuts to her body and was treated for bleeding on the brain.

Lance says that initially his sister wouldn’t believe her two youngest had died until she saw them for herself. “They were in gurneys lying on the floor, and she was holding both of them in total disbelief, just distraught,” says Lance of the memory he can’t forget. “She just cried.”

Storm was told about her sisters’ deaths that evening and spent the next several days in the hospital before she was discharged. She’s now recovering at home as both she and her mom grapple with their loss.

“They would do everything, literally everything together with their mom,” says Lance, who adds that the three sisters had told him they were already making plans for Janene’s 50th birthday next summer. “And it’s absolutely difficult for her now.”

The grieving mom shared her heartbreak on social media. The day of the crash, she posted a picture of herself with Connor.

“My poppet, losing you and Cass is, by far, [the] greatest weight I’ve ever had to carry. In pieces [right now],” Janene captioned the photo. On Friday, Sept. 19, she shared her gratitude for the support her family had received since that life-altering weekend.

“Tomorrow, my girls will conclude their journey on this earth,” Janene wrote ahead of the funeral on Saturday, Sept. 20. “From the depths of our shattered hearts, my family and I would like to express our deepest gratitude for the overwhelming love and support we’ve received since our nightmare began on Sunday.” 

The women’s alma mater, Roosevelt High School in Roosevelt Park, also took to social media to share a moving tribute to Cassidy and Connor.

“These two remarkable young women were the very definition of sunshine in human form, and their absence has left a void that words can scarcely describe,” wrote the school in a joint post attributed to the principal, staff and students. 

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“The Moodley sisters were more than siblings; they were one,” the school concluded. “Together with their mom, lovingly known as ‘Neen,’ and their older sister, Storm, they formed an unbreakable bond. Our hearts ache for Janene and Storm, who are carried in our thoughts and prayers during this devastating time.”