An 18-year-old killed in a devastating Melbourne car crash on Saturday has been remembered as a kind and generous young soccer fan. Cesare Liberatore died after the car he was a passenger in crashed on the way home from Federation Square, where he and friends had watched the Socceroos play the United States in the World Cup.
The Crash
The group had just dropped one friend off at home and were heading south on Mickleham Road at Attwood about 7am when the P-plate driver lost control of the Mitsubishi Triton. The ute careened over a median strip into oncoming traffic and was T-boned. All three teens inside suffered serious and life-threatening injuries. Liberatore died of his injuries shortly after in hospital.
Tributes Flow
The Football Supporters Association Australia extended heartfelt sympathies for the young soccer supporter. Liberatore's former club, Greenvale United Soccer Club, observed a minute of silence in his honour. “Although Cesare’s time with the club was short, it will always be remembered. His passion, friendship, and love for the game will remain a part of our community,” the club said. “Once a part of our club, always a part of our family.”
Friends have paid tribute by delivering flowers to his family’s home and to the crash site. “All day they’ve knocked on the door – boys sobbing with flowers in their hands,” his grandmother Mary Liberatore told the Herald Sun. “You can tell the measure of a person by the company that they keep. These kids – every one of them – are just beautiful.”
Fundraiser Message
A fundraiser to support Liberatore’s grieving family shared a tribute: “Some people leave a lasting mark on everyone they meet, and Cesare Liberatore was one of those people. He was known for his kind heart, infectious smile, and the way he could make anyone feel welcome. Whether it was through his sense of humour, his generosity, or simply being there for the people he cared about, Cesare brought light into the lives of so many. His kindness, laughter, and the joy he brought to those around him will never be forgotten, and his memory will live on in the hearts of everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.”
