Family of Ivana Clonaridis killed in Keilor East crash talk of heartbreak

THE FAMILY of a teenager killed in a high-speed race has spoken of their heartbreak.

Ivana Clonaridis, who died in a crash on the Western Ring Rd. Pictures: FACEBOOK

THE FAMILY of a teenager killed in a high-speed race has spoken of their heartbreak.

Ivana Clonaridis,18, died after the car she was a passenger in ploughed off a Keilor East overpass after allegedly drag racing with another car.

The driver of the blue Holden ute, Harley Churchill, also died at the scene.

The aspiring law student left behind her mother Mary, sister Cassandra and her fiance Jake Cachia.

Mr Cachia told Channel 9 Ivana would light up a room.

“She had a heart like Pharlap. She was the sort of person that would help you even if she didn’t know you,” he said.

“We want Ivana home, but the reality hits us like a punch in the face.”

The family said Ivana paid the ultimate price for getting in the Holden ute on January 27.

“She made a mistake, she put her trust in somebody that she shouldn’t have. She’s paid the ultimate price,” Mr Cachia said.

Ivana’s mother Mary urged young people to be more responsible behind the wheel.

“(I want) these kids to get it through their heads, anything can happen,” she said.

“There will be another family grieving and going through what we are going through.”

A friend of the two teens killed today pleaded for others to take greater care on the roads as police ramped up the clampdown on hoons.

Jaimee Clarke, who met Mr Churchill through school at Hoppers Crossing and later became friends with Ms Clonaridis, told the Herald Sun: “People just need to be more responsible and sensible on the roads.”

“You do not know how you feel until you’re the one in that position,’’ she said.

“There is no going back.”

Delahey man Adem Arpaci was charged late on Thursday with one count each of culpable driving and dangerous driving causing death having handing himself into police.

An out of sessions court hearing was told Mr Arpaci was behind the wheel of a silver Ford sedan allegedly racing a blue Holden ute on the Western Ring Rd before the ute ploughed off an embankment near the EJ Whitten Bridge.

Major Collision Unit detective Sgt Steve Hill told the hearing Mr Arpaci admitted to travelling at 130km/h before the crash. “Investigators believe the accused aided and abetted the driver of the blue Holden ute in the death of the female passenger,” Det Sgt Hill said.

Mr Arpaci was granted bail on conditions that ban him from driving.

Police yesterday revealed they had charged 26 people, including men and women ranging in age from 18 to 39, as part of a hoon crackdown.

Mr Arpaci will face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on February 8.

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