Tue. Oct 8th, 2024
alert-–-mansfield-woods-point-road,-piries-crash:-first-victim-of-fiery-rental-car-crash-is-identified-–-as-his-fiancee-breaks-his-silenceAlert – Mansfield-Woods Point Road, Piries crash: First victim of fiery rental car crash is identified – as his fiancée breaks his silence

The grieving fiancée of one of four people killed when the rental car they were travelling in crashed into a tree in Victoria’s north-east has penned a devastating tribute.

Emergency services were called to the side of Mansfield-Woods Point Road in Piries at 7.45am on Sunday after a passerby saw a car on fire.

The vehicle’s four occupants were trapped inside the car as it burned. They all died at the scene.

Loved ones have flooded social media with devastated tributes to David Gasologa, who died in the crash, and who has been named as the first victim on Monday morning.

His fiancée Vaelei A Von Dincklage shared a photo with the caption: ‘I love you always & forever’. 

Another loved one said: ‘I didn’t believe any of it until this’ – before sharing news video of the devastating crash.  

David Gasologa was killed in the devastating Piries crash. His fiancee says she will love him 'always and forever'

David Gasologa was killed in the devastating Piries crash. His fiancee says she will love him ‘always and forever’

His fiancée, Vaelei A Von Dincklage, shared a tribute to David Gasoloa. They are pictured together, above

His fiancée, Vaelei A Von Dincklage, shared a tribute to David Gasoloa. They are pictured together, above

The victims are yet to be formally identified, but police believe they could be colleagues who were travelling together in a rental car.

Early investigations suggest the driver of the vehicle lost control, hit an embankment and spun off the road, with the car crashing into a paddock and bursting into flames.

Road Policing Command assistant commissioner Glenn Weir said all possible causes, including speed, would form part of the investigation.

The burnt out wreckage the car that crashed and burst into flames near Mansfield, killing four people.

The burnt out wreckage the car that crashed and burst into flames near Mansfield, killing four people.

The crash occurred on Mansfield-Woods Point Road in Piries, south of Mansfield and about 214km northeast of Melbourne (pictured)

The crash occurred on Mansfield-Woods Point Road in Piries, south of Mansfield and about 214km northeast of Melbourne (pictured)

He noted the area was known to be home to kangaroos and deer, and that would also be investigated.

‘This is going to be a complex investigation. Disaster victim identification personnel are on scene,’ Assistant Commissioner Weir said.

He was hopeful a witness would be able to give police a better idea of how the accident occurred. 

An aerial photograph from the scene shows the road to be narrow and surrounded by trees on one side, with a sharp drop on the other.

Piries is nearby the small town of Mansfield, about 214 km northeast from Melbourne.

Police believe the four victims were work colleagues. Picture: 7 News

Police believe the four victims were work colleagues. Picture: 7 News

Sunday’s quadruple fatality follows last Sunday’s tragedy in Daylesford, and brings the Victorian road toll to 256.

‘This collision is the latest in a series of multi-death collisions we’ve had in Victoria this year,’ Assistant Commissioner Weir said.

‘There are 34 extra lives lost from multi-vehicle fatalities this year.

‘The last time we saw a (road toll of 256) was in 2008.’

He said Victoria police would ‘continue our efforts to try and limit the carnage on Victoria’s roads’.

READ MORE: ‘Multiple people’ killed in rental car crash in Piries, in Victoria’s north-east

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