A heartbroken mother has spoken out about the chilling last conversation she had with her just days before he died in a horrific crash.
Joshua Elmes, 15, was one of four people killed when the red Toyota Corolla they were traveling in off the Wannon-Nigretta Falls Road in Bochara, 200 miles west of Melbourne, swerved and crashed into a tree early Saturday morning.
Alicia Montebello, 31, Lucus Garzoli, 17, and Meghan Fox, 14, were also killed, while the only survivor of the crash, 17, is in hospital with serious injuries.
Joshua’s parents, Matthew and Lee-Ann Elmes, have spoken out about the tragedy and that they warned their son not to get in the car with a woman who was allegedly driving dangerously last year after “an incident.”
Mr Elmes also revealed how Joshua admitted to him that he was in a car with friends doing ‘doughnuts’ a week before the crash.
The couple harbors no bitterness towards whoever was behind the wheel.
Hours before his death, Joshua was enjoying a youth Christian program and later decided to go out after an argument at home with his parents.
Joshua Elmes’s parents (pictured along with their three children, including leftist Josh) have spoken out about the tragedy that has devastated their family
“I told him good night and said I love you and five minutes later I heard the front door open and close,” Ms Elmes told Sunrise.
“I called him and I said, ‘Where are you going?’ and he said, ‘I’m going for a walk and I’ll see you soon.
“Never heard from him again.”
Her husband shared his message to his son after Joshua recently told him he had “done donuts” in a car with friends.
“I was just saying, ‘Look, one wrong decision could affect the rest of your life,’ and he said to me, ‘I’m not that stupid, Dad, I wouldn’t do that,'” recalled Mr Elmes.
Le-Ann broke down delivering an impassioned message to other teens in hopes other lives won’t be lost.
“I want Hamilton’s youth and as far as this goes, please think of your loved ones as you leave the front door,” she pleaded.
“Think of them, think of what might happen in those hours between you leaving and coming home.
“I beg Victoria, all of Australia, please do the right thing.”
“If it’s a legacy from Josh, I don’t care, just do the right thing and come home to your parents, because losing a child is a parent’s worst nightmare.”
Joshua’s parents were concerned that the group he associated with had “pushed too much boundaries, driven too fast.”
“In the end, Josh didn’t get in the car for the past four months, as far as we know. I might not even have discovered he was in the car if they hadn’t had the accident,” Mr Elmes said The age.
Joshua’s parents Matthew and Lee-Ann Elmes (pictured) called their son after he went out Friday night following an argument at home. It would be the last time they would speak to him
Teenager Joshua Elms (pictured) was warned months before he was killed not to get into the car of a ‘dangerous driver’, his shattered parents have revealed
The couple also revealed that they went to the police about a woman who was concerned that she was driving dangerously.
It is unclear whether that was the same woman behind the wheel on Saturday.
Mr Elmes also told the Announce sun that Joshua was prone to making “impulsive decisions” after being diagnosed with ADHD.
He added that teens were looking for adrenaline rush activities, including speeding.
“That’s what happened to these kids [from Hamilton]’ said Mr Elmes.
“They just push the boundaries too much; they drive too fast just for the adrenaline rush.’
Joshua is remembered as a larrikin teen who loved motorcycles, loved to play drums, and as a devoted big brother to his two siblings.
He had also just started his first job at Coles.
Joshua (behind) was close to his father Matthew (right) and younger brother Aaron (front)
Three teenagers and a woman were killed when a red Toyota Corolla (pictured) veered off Wannon-Nigretta Falls Road in Bochara
Joshua’s younger brother Aaron, 12, found a note Joshua had written on his laptop, outlining his life dreams and what he wanted to achieve in the next 10 years.
He wanted to join the ADF and fly fighter jets after spending the past three years as a cadet at Monivae College.
He then wanted to buy a country estate and settle down to start a young family, even naming the girl he wanted to marry.
Mrs. Elmes harbors no hatred or forgiveness for whoever was behind the wheel.
“It happened and we can’t bring them back. It’s easy to blame someone, but why?’ she said.
“A parent’s worst nightmare is losing a child, that’s what people say and warn us that you don’t want your kids to do crazy things. But you only understand that when it happens to you.’
Joshua Elmes (pictured) loved to play the drums, according to his family
Joshua Elmes (pictured) was killed along with Lucas Garzoli. He too is believed to have been an army cadet
She set up one online fundraiser for the victims’ families, which has raised more than $7,000 to date.
“I am one of the grieving parents in Hamilton Victoria who lost my beautiful child in a devastating crash. I would love to help the other grieving parents who have lost angels or have a seriously injured person,” the page reads.
“This is to help with funeral costs and any other expenses in the coming weeks and months.
“I just want to say that our angels are in heaven and are no longer in pain, and we will see them all again one day.
Meghan Fox, 14, died in the horror crash on Saturday
Lucus Garzoli had been an army cadet. He tragically died on Saturday in the horrific car accident
Victoria Deputy Commissioner of Police Glenn Weir said on Monday that an examination of the reconstruction of the crash showed the car was traveling at “much more than 100 km/h”.
“To get that speed on that road at that time of day, any time really, is just incomprehensible to me,” Mr Weir told ABC radio.
He further revealed that police believe a number of passengers were not wearing seatbelts, while specialist investigators were still trying to determine who was behind the wheel.
Police hope CCTV footage can shed light on what time the accident happened and how long it took for the accident to be noticed and the alarm raised
There have been 10 deaths in six separate accidents on Victoria’s roads since Friday.
The state’s tolls in 2023 stand at 133, 37 more than the same time last year.
Alicia Montebello, 31, (pictured) also died in Saturday’s horror crash
Investigators removed the wreckage from the car for further investigation