Jacopo Martini: Italian backpacker identified as 23-year-old who died in Indian Ocean Road crash in Lancelin

A 23-year-old man who died in a horror car crash in Lancelin at the weekend was an Italian backpacker on his way to his own farewell party after finishing work on a local farm when tragedy struck. Jacopo Martini was in the front seat of a Mitsubishi Lancer coupe when it collided with a Toyota HiLux utility at the Indian Ocean Drive and Lancelin Road intersection on Friday night. Mr Martini, his brother and their friend had that day finished a three-month stint working at the nearby Sumich West Hill Farm, driving harvesting machinery after arriving in Australia early this year. The 23-year-old and three others were on their way to a friend’s house in Lancelin to celebrate and say their goodbyes before flying to Bali the following morning for a holiday and then home to Italy. Sadly, they never made it. Mr Martini’s death has made front page news in his homeland, with Italian media reporting Mr Martini’s brother, Giuseppe Martini, was not in the car and had to deliver the tragic news to their parents. Their friend, Luca Calliari, 24, of Romeno, was critically injured but is now in a stable condition at Royal Perth Hospital. Two others were also taken to hospital with serious injuries. Mr Martini’s aunt told local press: “He was ready to go home (to Italy), also because he was about to become an uncle”. “The pain is too strong. The words struggle to come out,” she said. “He was the youngest, his uncle added. “But he was our little one, always friendly, always available, always very sweet. He was happy and outgoing. He was about to close his adventure in Australia and was ready to go home; he wanted to be there for the birth of his future nephew.” West Hills Farm harvest supervisor Oleksander Nechvohalo said Mr Martini’s death had come as a shock. Mr Nechvohalo said Mr Martini, of Sarnonico in northern Italy, was a “good worker, always positive”. “All three of them, his brother is here. They came together,” he said. “They were all really nice people. “The last day, we caught up to say goodbye. No one expected it was going to happen like that. “When you look at the guy, you can see something really good in his eyes. “I can definitely say he was a good, hard-working, intelligent man.” Mr Nechvohalo expressed his condolences to Mr Martini’s family in Italy and said his death was a “big tragedy”. “He was only 23 years old. It was such a bad way to end. There was a ute and a little car. Maybe it could have ended differently if he had a bigger car.” Fellow Sumich West Hills Farm worker Nuan Keddie added: “They were really nice boys. They say good morning to me every day.” A fundraising page has been set up to help repatriate Mr Martini’s body to his family in Italy. It has so far raised more than 32,000 euros ($51,000 AUD). “Hi, we are Apo’s friends; that’s what we liked to call him,” the page, translated into English, said. “We organise this fundraiser to help Jacopo’s family, in particular, to support the considerable costs of repatriation to Italy. “Parents, siblings, all loved ones, friends and people who care about him would like him to come home, and we would like to have him back here with us. Every little help could be really important. Heartfelt thanks to all.” The 29-year-old male driver of the Toyota Hilux and his two adult passengers sustained minor injuries in the collision. Major crash detectives are investigating and urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Dash-cam or mobile phone vision relating to the crash can be uploaded directly to investigators via this link. Donate to the GoFundMe page here.