A tragic incident unfolded when a Toyota Echo veered off Langs Road in Ascot Vale, striking a curb near the Melbourne Showgrounds around 5 p.m. on Saturday, claiming the life of 20-year-old Volkan Aksoy.
Aksoy had been enjoying a day out with friends at the Supanova Comic Con and Gaming event before the accident, which resulted in his untimely death at the scene.
His closest friend, also aged 20, sustained a cracked skull and a fractured leg and is currently hospitalized in serious but stable condition.
Another companion, who was treated for shock, has since been released from the hospital.
Aksoy’s devastated mother remembered her son as “a kind and compassionate young man who treasured moments with his friends and family, whom he loved dearly.”
“He had a beautiful spirit, was deeply loved, and will be profoundly missed by all who knew him,” she expressed to 9News.
The family is struggling to come to terms with the tragedy, his mother said.
“His life was taken far too soon – there’s no other way to describe it.”
Aksoy’s colleagues at the Keysborough fast-food restaurant where he worked for several years remembered the young man as a “well-mannered, easy-going, social gentleman”.
“He had big dreams, he was very intellectual, that’s what I’m going to miss the most about him,” friend and coworker Hasha Kong said.
“I remembered he was so excited to go to Japan at the end of the year with his high school best friends, until this happened.
“But I am so grateful to have met him. I believe that anyone would love to have a person just like Volkan in their life.”
Police allege the Werribee man who was allegedly behind the wheel was on bail at the time and was unlicensed.
Amer Dau, 33, fronted court today charged with dangerous driving causing death, culpable driving and committing an indictable offence whilst on bail.
He made no further application for bail and will remain behind bars until his next court appearance in September.
Investigations remain ongoing as to whether it was a deliberate act, but detectives have ruled out terrorism.
Further charges could be laid, police said.
He’ll face court again in September.
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