Italian backpacker dies in horror crash north of Perth

An Italian backpacker who just completed his farm work in Perth was heading to his own farewell party when he was tragically killed in a car crash.

A young Italian backpacker has died while on his way to his own farewell party.

Jacopo Martini, 23, who has been exploring rural Australia, was killed in a horror car crash north of Perth last Friday, just a day before he was due to fly back home.

He was travelling in the front seat of the car — a red Mitsubishi Lancer — when it collided with a Toyota Hilux driving in the opposite direction about 6.40pm at the Lancelin Road intersection on Indian Ocean Drive.

Italian backpacker Jacopo Martini, 23, was on his way to his own farewell party after wrapping up his three-month stint working on a farm, when he was tragically killed in a car crash.

There were three others in the car, who remain in hospital, but Mr Martini, known to his friends as Apo, tragically died at the scene.

Luca Calliari, 24, the driver of the Lancer and fellow traveller from the north of Italy, sustained critical injuries and was transported to Royal Perth Hospital, where he remains in stable condition.

“A further two adult passengers from the Mitsubishi sustained serious injuries in the crash and were conveyed to Joondalup Health Campus and Royal Perth Hospital for treatment,” WA Police said in a statement.

“A 29-year-old male driver of the Toyota Hilux and his two adult passengers sustained minor injuries.”

Mr Martini, who was in the passenger seat, was travelling with three others when their car collided with another at the Lancelin Road intersection on Indian Ocean Drive, north of Perth.

In a tragic turn of events, Mr Martini, from Sarnonico, was due to fly out of Australia the following day, heading to Bali with friends, before going back home for the birth of his nephew.

The young backpacker, together with his brother and friend had finished a three-month stint that day, working at the nearby Sumich West Hill Farm, driving harvesting machinery.

The trio had arrived in Australia early this year.

To celebrate, the 23-year-old and three others were on their way to a friend’s house in Lancelin — but Mr Martini sadly didn’t make it.

Mr Martini’s brother Giuseppe was not in the car.

His family in Italy have been left heartbroken. Mr Martini was heading back home for the birth of his nephew.

His death has made headlines in his home country with Italian publication I’Adige reporting that Giuseppe had to deliver the tragic news to his parents.

Mr Martini’s aunt told local press: “He was ready to go home (to Italy), also because he was about to become an uncle.”

“The pain is too strong. The words struggle to come out,” she said.

“He was the youngest,” his uncle added.

“But he was our little one, always friendly, always available, always very sweet. He was happy and outgoing. He was about to close his adventure in Australia and was ready to go home; he wanted to be there for the birth of his future nephew.”

The incident took place about 6.40pm on June 2 (pictured scene of the crash). Picture: Google Maps

A GoFundMe created by his friends has so far raised more than $52,000

to go towards the expenses in brining his body home to Italy.

“Hi, we’re Apo’s friends, that’s what we liked to call him. We organise this fundraiser to help Jacopo’s family, in particular to support the considerable costs involved in repatriation to Italy,” the page reads.

“Parents, siblings, all loved ones, friends and people who care about him would like him to come home, we would like to have him back here with us.

“Every little help could really matter. Heartfelt thanks to all.”

West Hills Farm harvest supervisor Oleksander Nechvohalo told The West Australian the young backpacker’s death had come as a shock.

He described Mr Martini has a “good worker, always positive”.

“All three of them, his brother is here. They came together,” he said.

“They were all really nice people.

“The last day, we caught up to say goodbye. No one expected it was going to happen like that.”

Mr Nechvohalo expressed his condolences to Mr Martini’s family in Italy and said his death was a “big tragedy”.