During Mass at St John’s Catholic Church in Campbeltown on Sunday morning those present found out that one of their members had tragically been killed the day before.
Maureen Crosland, 84, was a passenger in a car driven by Lee Casuscelli, 60, when a man known to police crashed a stolen car into them, killing both women.
The tragedy occurred just after 11am on the Old Hume Highway at Camden South.
It is believed the women from Campbelltown were in Camden to pick up a wedding dress.
Police have now charged the 31 year old man driving the stolen car with 11 offences, including dangerous driving occasioning death and two counts of driving dangerously.
He was also charged with two counts of aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death, and with failing to stop and assist.
Other charges are negligent driving occasioning death, driving while unlicensed, and assault to take and drive a motor vehicle.
He was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 6 on Sunday.
Police say that around 10.20am on Saturday emergency services were called to a service station on King Georges Road, South Hurstville, following reports of a vehicle theft.
Officers were told a 25-year-old man was assaulted by an unknown man who stole his red sedan and left the scene.
A short time later, officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command located the vehicle travelling on King Georges Road, Beverly Hills.
When it allegedly failed to stop as directed, a pursuit was initiated.
With assistance from PolAir and multiple police commands, the pursuit continued along the M5 Motorway, before it was terminated.
PolAir continued to track the vehicle before the sedan crashed into an Alfa Romeo sedan on the Old Hume Highway, Camden South, about 11.10am.
The driver of the sedan ran from the scene and was arrested on Nepean Avenue, Camden.