BEYOND GRIEF..! – A friend of the boys involved in the devastating crash after the Socceroos game has shared chilling details about the moments before the tragedy that left one teens d-e:ad and another fighting for their lives.
Two schools in Melbourne’s north west are in mourning after the death of one student and the serious injuries suffered by two others in a horror car crash after the Socceroos match on Saturday morning.
Staff writers
Cesare Liberatore, 18, was killed when the car he was a passenger in collided with another vehicle on the opposite side of the road.
Two Victorian secondary schools are rallying behind their senior students after a horror car crash killed one year 12 student and left two others hospitalised.
The St Bernard’s College and Gladstone Park Secondary College communities have been rocked by the tragedy with the schools holding assemblies and providing counselling for shocked students and staff this morning.
Gladstone Park Secondary College year 12 student Cesare Liberatore, 18, died after the car he was a passenger in collided with another vehicle on the opposite side of the road on Mickleham Road in Attwood about 7am on Saturday morning.
Cesare died in the smash after watching the Socceroos at Federation Square. Picture: Supplied.
His friends Julian, 18, who attended Gladstone Park Secondary College until he secured an apprenticeship earlier this year, and Oscar Lococo, 17, a year 12 student at St Bernard’s College, have been hospitalised with serious injuries.
The boys had been driving home from watching the Socceroos match at Federation Square.
Cesare’s grandmother Mary Liberatore said the grieving family had been inundated with support from the schools and their “incredible” students, along with other friends of her “beautiful”, soccer-loving grandson.
“It’s been an absolute outpouring of grief,” she said.
“All day they’ve knocked on the door – boys sobbing with flowers in their hands.
“I am absolutely gobsmacked. You can tell the measure of a person by the company that they keep. These kids – every one of them – are just beautiful.
“You hear all these bad things about today’s generation. I feel the need to get in touch with the schools to thank them.”
Oscar Lococo, 17, (left) and Julian, 18, were seriously injured in a fatal car accident on Saturday after watching the Socceroos match at Federation Square. Picture: Supplied.
A friend of the boys involved in the crash said they were each popular and well loved by friends from both school and within basketball and football circles.
She said devastated friends were supporting one another by sharing stories and photos of Cesare and praying for Oscar and Julian’s recoveries.
“Everyone’s finding light in the dark of the situation. Everyone is so grateful for the community support,” she said.
St Bernard’s year 12 students gathered in the College Chapel this morning to pray for the three teenagers and their families.
Many students and staff also spent time at the Royal Melbourne Hospital supporting the families during the weekend.
St Bernard’s principal Michael Davies paid tribute to Cesare, who also used to attend St Bernard’s but left the school in 2023.
“Our heartfelt prayers are with his family and friends at this time of unimaginable loss,” he said in a statement to school families.
St Bernard’s College in Essendon, along with Gladstone Park Secondary College, is providing counselling and wellbeing support for students impacted by the tragedy. Picture: Supplied.
The school has also been in close contact with Oscar’s family.
“As a college community, we hold all three young men and their families in our thoughts and prayers,” Mr Davies said.
A spokesman for the Department of Education offered condolences to Cesare’s family and said it was a distressing time for the Gladstone Park Secondary College community who were “deeply saddened” by the tragedy affecting the former classmates.
“This is a distressing time for the school community, and we are providing full wellbeing support to students,” he said.
“Additional wellbeing support is also being provided for staff.”
Go Fund Me pages have been set up to support the teenagers and their families.
