Inside the life of Italian travel blogger Gabriele Cairo, charged over triple fatal crash
Italian blogger Gabriele Cairo was celebrating his recent marriage — now, three members of a beloved Mid North family are dead and he’s faced court.
Police & Courts
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An Italian travel-blogging couple’s dream South Australian honeymoon was halted by tragedy when their van collided with a car carrying three beloved members of a Mid North family.
Part-time international travel blogger Gabriele Cairo has been charged with serious driving offences over a crash that killed Cynthia, John and Jacqueline Clark at Everard Central, near Blyth, on October 31.
His wife Elena Perrone, 26, was also seriously injured in the crash.
Who are Gabriele Cairo and Elena Perrone?
Mr Cairo and Ms Perrone operate several social media accounts and a YouTube channel called “Hakuna Matata Viaggi”, all of which chart their international travel.
Mr Cairo is from La Salle in Italy, a town and commune nested in the Aosta Valley region of the country’s northwest, while Ms Perrone lives in nearby Turin — the capital of Piedmont near the French and Swiss borders.
Their photos and videos show them visiting numerous locations in Los Angeles, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Dubai, Ibiza and Kenya, complete with drone shots and Italian voiceovers describing their travels.
The accounts describe Mr Cairo and Ms Perrone as “the travel couple” and “part-time travel bloggers”.
The couple has more than 200 subscribers on YouTube and almost 17,000 followers on Instagram.
Ms Perrone’s Instagram bio reads in Italian: “Waitress by profession, traveller by passion”.
The recently-wed couple were on their honeymoon in South Australia when the crash occurred.
Why has Gabriele Cairo faced court?
Mr Cairo, who speaks very little English, faced Adelaide Magistrates Court on January 17 charged with multiple serious driving offences over allegations he caused the deaths of Cynthia, John and Jacqueline Clark in a crash at Everard Central.
The van being driven by Mr Cairo collided with the Clark family’s Honda around 5.20pm at the intersection of Templeton, Blyth and Black Range roads on October 31, 2023.
Jacqueline, 54, who was driving the car, and her mother Cynthia, 86, died at the scene.
The rear passenger of the Honda, John, 84, suffered critical injuries and was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital — where he died a week later on November 6.
Mr Cairo is further charged with having caused harm to Ms Perrone, who was a passenger in the van.
He is yet to enter a plea to the charges, with the case adjourned until March 2024.
Who were Cynthia, John and Jacqueline Clark?
Described by members of the Mid North community as a “blessing” to those around them, Cynthia, John and Jacqueline were remembered as pillars of kindness.
Up to 300 people celebrated the lives and said their farewells to the Clark family at an emotional funeral service at Snowtown Football Club on November 20, including the family’s last surviving child Paul Clark.
Former neighbour Natasha Mahar said living next to the Clark family had been a blessing.
“My mother Rhonda had a soft spot for Jackie, she would call her in for tea and scones,” she said.
“Jackie was part of everyone’s family, eating out of everyone’s pantry and playing endless games of cricket,” childhood friend Helen Smith said.
“Cynthia had a marvellous sense of humour and she loved practical jokes.
“She had a smile and a tender word for everyone.”
Mr Clark was on holidays overseas when the news reached him of the devastating crash, quickly rushing home to be by his father’s bedside at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
He expressed his gratitude, giving thanks to the first responders at the scene of the fatal crash, one of whom he said “held my mum” and to “the person who made the first phone call”.
He said his hope in the wake of this tragedy was to give back tirelessly to others and to be there for his own daughters.
“We weren’t religious people but you’re in heaven,” he said.
“Hopefully I won’t get up there for a long time.
“I got three girls to take care of and I’ve still got a lot of work to do.”
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