Young car enthusiast dies after losing control of his vehicle in Melbourne
A young car enthusiast has been identified as the driver killed in a single-car crash east of Melbourne this weekend.
Stefan Andrew Barthelot, 26, was driving along the Healesville – Koo Wee Up road near Yellingbo at around 4.40pm on Sunday when he lost control of his car.
Originally from Sri Lanka, he had lived in Melbourne for the past five years, where a friend described him as a ‘loving and kind-hearted’ young man.
According to police, the driver was seriously injured in the accident and died on the way to the hospital.
A GoFundMe has been launched to help his ‘heartbroken’ family with flights from Sri Lanka to Victoria and to help with funeral costs.
“Stefan came to Australia hoping to build a future for himself and his family in Sri Lanka,” said organizer Jehan Loduwyke.
‘He was a keen car enthusiast and had been driving his beloved car at the time of the accident.
‘Stefan was a kid at heart and his Melbourne home reflected this, with Avengers posters, miniature Jurassic Park dinosaurs and Star Wars relics in the nooks and crannies.
“As his family are still in Sri Lanka, we are raising funds to take them to Melbourne so they can perform his last rites and honor his memory.”
Stefan Andrew Barthelot, 26, died when his car crashed in Yellingbo, an hour east of Melbourne
Police said no other vehicles were involved in the crash, which is under investigation
Police said no other people were injured and no other cars were involved in the crash.
Yarra Ranges Highway Patrol is investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision and will prepare a report for the coroner.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, has information or has dashcam or CCTV footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.