Parents' final words to son killed in Bochara crash

"I just said one wrong decision can impact the rest of your life," the victim's heartbroken father said.

Madeleine Achenza and Elena Couper

3 min read

May 31, 2023 - 2:19PM

Family Life

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The four people killed in a nightmare crash on a Victorian country road have now been identified hours after shocking video emerged of the young group’s final moments.

Meghan Fox, 14, has been identified as the fourth person killed alongside Alicia Montebello, 31, Joshua Elmes, 15, and Lucus Garzoli, 17, when the Toyota Corolla they were travelling in crashed into a tree near Bochara on Saturday morning.

A 17-year-old girl – the sole survivor of the crash – remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition after suffering critical injuries to her upper body during the incident.

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Joshua is understood to have recently started working at Coles Hamilton alongside his supervisor, Ms Montebello.

A Coles spokesperson confirmed that team members at the supermarket had been offered counselling to support them through the traumatic loss of two friends.

“We want to express our deepest condolences to the loved ones of our team members involved in Saturday’s car crash,” the spokesperson said.

“Our thoughts are with our team members at Coles Hamilton who have been offered counselling at this tragic time.”

Ms Montebello was remembered as a ‘beautiful’ person who was ‘taken away too soon’. Picture: Facebook

Joshua’s father said he felt as if he had ‘failed’ his son in an emotional post. Picture: Facebook

Meghan Fox, 14, has been identified as the fourth victim. Picture: Supplied

Lucus Garzoli, 14, was killed during the crash. Picture: Facebook

"He said, 'I'm going for a walk, I'll see you soon'"

Joshua’s parents bravely fronted cameras on Monday to plead with young drivers to make better decisions when hitting the road with friends.

Mother Lee-Ann Elmes recalled the last time she said good night to her son before hearing him sneak out of the house the night before he died.

“I said, ‘I love you’. I said goodnight to him,” she told Sunrise.

“The next five minutes later, I heard the door open and close and I rang him and I said, ‘Where are you going?’

“He said, ‘I’m going for a walk, I’ll see you soon’.

“I never heard from him again.”

Joshua Elmes' mum remembers calling him for the last time on the night he died after he snuck out of the house. Picture: Sunrise

"Please think of your loved ones when you leave the front door"

Joshua’s dad Matthew recalled pleading with his son to be safe on the road after finding out he had been doing doughnuts in the street with friends.

“I just said, the rest of your life, one wrong decision can impact the rest of your life, so don't do anything stupid.

“He said to me, ‘I’m not that stupid, Dad’.”

The parents broke into tears as they delivered a gut-wrenching message to young drivers in the hopes they might be able to stop other lives from being cut short.

“I want the youth of Hamilton and however far this goes, please think of your loved ones when you leave the front door,” Ms Elmes said.

“Think of them, think of what could happen between when you leave in those hours and when you get home.”

Police removed the car from the scene. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

Footage emerges from moments before fatal crash

Shocking video has emerged from inside the car moments before it crashed.

The video posted to Snapchat on the night of the crash shows the car barrelling down a dark road as one of the passengers asks about the speed of the car.

“What speed are we doing?” a male says.

“One hundred and thirty,” a female replies.

“Sweet,” he responds.

Footage from inside a car that crashed at Bochara, 320km west of Melbourne.

A 17-year-old girl – the sole survivor – is fighting for life in hospital.

"I will miss that beautiful face"

Lucus Garzoli was the third victim identified on Monday.

His Facebook account was filled with images of decked-out cars, with the teen describing himself as a “driving” enthusiast alongside his hobbies of playing video games and going to the gym.

“You only live once so make it a good f**king life,” his Facebook bio read.

Remembered as a “beautiful boy”, Lucus’ loved ones took to Facebook to pay their respects to the young teen.

“Lucus was a beautiful boy, we will always forever cherish the moments we spent with him,” one person wrote.

Lyn Lucas mourned her “gorgeous grandson”.

“I will miss that beautiful face,” she said.