Messages of love come through after tragic crash destroys young lives…
CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS reports on the tragic Dandenong Ranges deaths of two Casey mates and recalls how he lost his brother in similar circumstances.
Two good-natured Casey teenagers are dead, another is fighting for life in The Alfred after an horrific two-car crash in Kallista on 24 May.
On one hand they are statistics of a 2016 road toll that refuses to buckle ‘Towards Zero’. It had soared to 122 by 26 May – 17 ahead of last year.
To loved ones of Kristof Kollar, 19, and his mate Lazlo Nagy, 17, the toll is unimaginably crushing.
The two died at the scene after the car they were travelling in crashed when it skidded on Monbulk Road near Grant’s Picnic Ground, collided into an oncoming 4WD and rolled down an embankment in the dark.
Their passenger, Aaron Goldsmith, 18, was airlifted to The Alfred hospital with critical head injuries.
Out of the catastrophe, brothers of the two late teenagers posted a defiant photo, arms around each other, in front of the crash shrine.
Oliver Kollar declared on Facebook that he and Isaac Nagy both grieved for their older brothers.
“You and I lost a great deal.
“They left here together so today my friend and for the rest of my life you are my brother.”
Earlier, Oliver delivered a mighty message via a media pack at the shrine for everyone to “cherish your family”.
“Don’t be too manly to say ‘I love you’.”
Tributes have poured onto social media for the pair, some of them from school friends from Gleneagles Secondary Collage, Hallam Senior College and Fountain Gate Secondary College.
Kristof was described as “someone I could always count on” who helped the person who wrote the tribute to blend into their first days at a new school.
His employer, Pretty’s Prime Cuts, posted that he was “such a lovely, well-mannered, all-round great kid”.
“I have lost a brother in an eerily similar way.
My advice to these poor families, friends and loved ones is just be there for them.
Don’t be scared to ask how they are doing even though they are obviously feeling crap.
Even if you can’t say a word, your help and show of support is what counts.
It won’t mend what’s unfixable but will mean the world to them.”
– CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
Lazlo was praised as “one of the funniest and most caring blokes” who’d have jokes with the teacher in automotive class.
Many are willing Aaron to pull through from life support.
Endeavour North Hawks Junior Football Club has spread wings of support around Lazlo’s family, especially his mother and club life member Louisa Nagy.
Club president Steve Navarra said Lazlo, a former Hawks player and Hallam Senior College student, was a likeable, quiet boy who stayed out of trouble and had many friends at the club.
The family was highly respected. Lazlo’s three brothers play for the Hawks and their mother was a generous contributor.
“The family don’t deserve this. They are a wonderful family,” Mr Navarra said.
The day after the crash, Mr Navarra was set to join club members and friends filling the Nagy home to cook meals and console the popular family.
Senior Endeavour Hills team players were resolved to wear black armbands at last weekend’s game and the junior team was to do the same and pay a minute’s silence to Lazlo.
An Endeavour Hills Hawks Junior Football club member, close to the Nagy family, said it was hard to find the words to say to the family.
The cause of the crash is being investigated by the Major Collision Investigation Unit which will prepare a report for the coroner.
Mourning families pay tribute to Kristof Kollar, Lazlo Nagy and Aaron Goldsmith at the crash site. Footage: Channel 7
