A 19-year-old man has died after the off-road buggy he was riding in collided with a kangaroo on private property in Western Australia.
Fatal crash in Beermullah
Adam Varone was a passenger in the vehicle that struck the animal on a property in Beermullah, near Gingin, northeast of Perth in the Wheatbelt region, around 7:30 pm on Saturday, according to The West Australian. The former Aquinas College student was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital but tragically could not be saved.
School community mourns
Aquinas College principal Jen Knox expressed her sorrow in a statement to the school community on Tuesday. “It is with deep sadness that I share the news that Aquinas College Class of 2024 student, Adam Varone, passed away … following a tragic all-terrain vehicle accident over the weekend,” she said, as reported by The West Australian.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Adam’s mother Nikki, father Frank, sister Leah, girlfriend Tatjana, extended family, classmates, friends and all members of the Aquinas community who knew and cared for him.”
Knox noted that many community members gathered for Mass on Sunday to pray for Adam and his family. “The large attendance was a reflection of the love, care and support that surrounds Adam and those closest to him during this profoundly difficult time.”
Connection to previous tragedy
Varone was a classmate of Nick Campo, whose death in a car crash in July 2024 was among a series of tragedies that prompted changes to Western Australia’s driving laws. Campo was a passenger in a Toyota HiLux that rolled and collided with another car on Farrington Road in North Lake, in Perth’s southern suburbs.
Organ donation legacy
Knox said Varone’s organs would be donated, describing it as “Adam’s final gift” that “will leave a lasting legacy through the lives he will help save.” She added, “We thank all those who have kept Adam and his family in their prayers and ask that we continue to hold them close in our hearts, remaining united as a community in the days ahead.”
The driver of the ATV was uninjured, and police are continuing their investigation into the crash.
