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The fiancee of a man who died along with three others in a crash near Mansfield at the weekend has paid tribute to the young Samoan, one of the latest victims on Victoria’s roads as the toll for the year so far sits at a 15-year-high.
“I love you always & forever,” Vaelei A Von Dincklage wrote on Facebook about David Gasologa. “You really are not coming back to me aye I’ll see you on the other side babey I was patiently waiting for your return.”
Vaelei A Von Dincklage has identified her fiance, David Gasologa, as one of the four victims of the Piries car crash.
She posted a black and white photo and described it as “our last photo together before you left for Aussie”.
Police are working to identify the victims of Sunday’s crash, in which a rental car hit a tree and burst into flames.
Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir told 3AW that the men were housemates in their 20s from the Pacific Islands who were working in the vegetable industry in and around Mansfield.
Weir said the group had visited friends at Macs Cove on Lake Eildon and consumed alcohol. On the way home, the driver is believed to have lost control around a curve and hit a tree, and the car then burst into flames.
The crash scene near Mansfield.Credit: Nine News
Police are investigating whether alcohol was a factor in the crash.
“When you take yesterday’s collision at Piries, near Mansfield, for example, that is not heavily used, a road that’s in quite good condition. There’s absolutely no reason that if everyone’s obeying all the road rules, that that sort of thing should happen,” Weir said.
“It’s one of the key components of the investigation in relation to the Piries collision, is whether alcohol is a factor.”
Fruit Growers Victoria said members’ thoughts were with the victims’ families. “We appreciate the work that these PALM [Pacific Australia Labour Mobility] workers do when they come out to help our horticultural business in need of workers,” the organisation said.
Mansfield Shire Mayor James Tehan extended his “deepest condolences to the families and loved one affected by the tragic accident that claimed the lives of four individuals in our community.
“Our hearts and thoughts are with those who are enduring this profound loss. Our gratitude goes to the emergency services and investigators working diligently to understand the circumstances surrounding this incident.”
It is believed the four crash victims were in Australia under the PALM program, in which Australian agriculture businesses hire workers from Pacific Island countries for between nine months to four years.
In another incident at the weekend, two people police believe were from Bangladesh were killed near Bendigo when their car and a truck and ute collided.
Police will hold an emergency meeting this week to discuss this year’s road toll, which sits at 258 so far, a 15-year-high for the same period.
Weir said police would enforce any reduction in speed limits. The Transport Accident Commission will launch an alcohol awareness campaign soon in the lead-up to Christmas.
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