Tributes paid to Adam Joseph, who was struck and killed by a drunk driver at O’Halloran Hill
A young man who died after being hit by a drunk driver has been remembered for his ability to make friends wherever he went and to always make people laugh. The man behind the wheel of the car has been arrested and is in police custody.
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The parents of a young man who died after being hit by a drunk driver have said their son was a “real battler” and their “hero”.
Adam Joseph, 21, died after he was struck by a white Mercedes-Benz sedan on Black Rd at O’Halloran Hill at about 4am yesterday.
He was returning from the Victoria Hotel with a group of friends when he was hit.
Mr Joseph’s distraught parents, David Joseph and Lisa Hallett, last night said their son “was everybody’s friend”.
“Anyone who met him admired him,” they said in a statement to the media. “He was just the best son, he was so beautiful. He was a real battler, he was our hero.”
Friends and members of the Noarlunga United Soccer Club, where Mr Joseph played, paid tribute.
Under-18s coach Sean Carroll said Mr Joseph had been his assistant coach and team manager during the 2018 season.
“He really typified what the club is all about,” Mr Carroll said.
“He had his own physical challenges to overcome but he was always willing to help people. He loved his football and made friends wherever he went.
“He was just one of those likeable people who everyone was drawn to.’’
Mr Joseph’s friends yesterday took to social media praising the young man’s “resilience and strength” as well as saying he had a “beautiful soul” – and was an “amazing human being”.
A GoFundMe campaign to help support Mr Joseph’s family raised more than $11,000 against a $20,000 target in less than a day. Noarlunga United chairwoman Monika Cadman said the club had lost one of its own.
“Adam demonstrated a great love towards our club and members with his gestures over the years,” she said.
“This led him to being awarded the prestigious volunteer of the year in 2017.
“Adam had physical disabilities which most of us would have found daunting, particularly in an environment in which physical abilities determine success or otherwise.
“Adam was never deterred by that and was involved with our club for over six years, playing in teams at junior and senior Federation level and at senior level in the amateur league.
“His willingness to help whenever he could was the hallmark of Adam’s time with Noarlunga United.
“His future was bright, as he loved the sport and wanted to improve and pass on knowledge to others.
“Adam was a fun-loving kind of guy, very supportive, caring and a great mate and friend.”
Mr Joseph was in his last year of a sports health and science degree and was due to leave for the UK in January for a placement with Arsenal Football Club.
The driver of the car which struck Mr Joseph, a 23-year-old Aberfoyle Park man, recorded a blood-alcohol reading of 0.191 – almost four times the legal limit – and remains in police custody after being arrested and refused bail.
He was not injured but was taken to hospital as a precaution. He will appear in court tomorrow charged with aggravated causing death by dangerous driving and drink-driving.
Police are exasperated at a string of fatal and serious crashes on the state’s roads since Christmas Day.
Officer in charge of traffic enforcement branch, Superintendent Bob Gray, said several traffic incidents in the last month, which caused serious injuries or death, had been avoidable.
“The collision that occurred overnight was totally avoidable, that person didn’t have to make the decision to get in that vehicle when he’d been drinking,” Supt Gray said.
The straight stretch of Black Rd where Mr Joseph was struck has no overhead lighting or homes on either side.
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