Heart of gold

By Lia Bichel
GRIEVING friends have remembered a young man with a “heart of gold” and “contagious smile” who died in a traffic crash on the weekend.
Police said a man, whom the News believes to be 24-year-old Adric Lambert from Narre Warren, died after his motorcycle collided with a truck on Old Dandenong Road in Dingley Village about 5.20pm on Saturday.
The tragic death occurred two days before the City of Casey announced a new motorcycle safety program to be held later this month after a growing number of fatalities.
Saturday’s fatality was the 100th on Victoria Roads this year and the second person from the City of Casey to die from a motorcycle crash in two weeks.
Heart-felt tributes, messages of condolence, and numerous pictures were posted on a Facebook page set up in memory Adric ‘AJ’ Lambert.
Posts tell of a “young man with a heart of gold and a smile that lights even the darkest of places and situations. A person very charismatic and loved by so many.”
Other friends said his imprint would be left on everyone’s heart that knew him and that he would be missed and never forgotten.
One person wrote, “Adric you were an amazing person, so genuine and funny,” and another wrote, “You were such an honest, lovely and caring person and that’s why you were loved by so many! You will be in all our hearts forever and never forgotten.”
About 2.30pm on 21 April, a 30-year-old Berwick man was killed when his motorcycle collided with a car near on Ernst Wanke Road near Berwick.
The driver of the car, a woman in her fifties, was taken to hospital for treatment with non-life threatening injuries.
City of Casey Manager Community Safety Caroline Bell said motorcyclists were 30 times more likely to sustain fatal or serious injury than other vehicle occupants.
She said the free motorcycle safety training would see professional instructors at the DECA Training Centre in Carrum Downs assist riders to assess their safety skills and gain a greater understanding of braking techniques and their motorcycle’s capabilities.
“Anything we can do to reduce this risk is a good thing for all local road users,” Ms Bell said.
The two-hour sessions will be held at 8am, 10am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm on Sunday 22 May and Saturday 28 May.
It is free to Casey residents and participants must have a registered motorcycle, current licence and suitable safety gear. For books and more information contact Council’s Road Safety Officer on 9705 5200.
Anyone with information about the motorcycle accident on Old Dandenong Road is urged to contact their local police station.