A white cross and tributes have been placed at the crash scene in Clyde where Berwick teenager Paul Gerald Dalli died when his car collided with a truck. 50464 Picture: Stewart ChambersBy Kelly Yates
THE parents of a Berwick teenager who was killed in a head-on car collision with a truck last week have described their son as a “perfect 19-year-old”.
Lawrence and Iris Dalli say they are still coming to terms with the sudden death of their youngest son Paul in what they say was a “freak accident”.
Paul Gerald Dalli died when his car drifted onto the wrong side of Clyde-Five Ways Road and collided with the on-coming B-double truck in Clyde last Tuesday.
The Dalli family believe the road where Paul died is a “death trap.”
“It’s a disastrous road,” Mr Dalli said.
“Trucks should be banned from using it. We don’t blame the truck driver but something needs to be done about the road so no one else dies.”
Paul is the fifth person to die on Casey roads this year.
Mourners are expected to fill St Michael’s Catholic Church in Berwick today for Paul’s funeral.
Mrs Dalli recalled the last time she saw Paul, which was only hours before the tragic crash.
“His classes at TAFE were cancelled and he decided to go for a short drive. But he never came home,” she said.
“He never stayed out late and was always home for dinner. I knew something was wrong and then the police came knocking.”
Paul’s eldest brother Wayne, 23, said he was devastated he had lost his brother.
The Dalli family have described Paul as a “computer genius” who enjoyed studying computer engineering and network at Chisholm TAFE in Berwick.
“He would study very hard and always got good marks,” Mr Dalli said.
“He often helped our neighbours and the family with their computer problems. He was always willing to lend a helping hand.”
Paul also volunteered his time once a week to help students at Berwick Secondary College with their computer studies.
The former Nazarath College student had a passion for soccer, wrestling, target shooting and expensive cars, and loved camping and gardening with his dad.
“He was a quiet and shy guy who loved his family,” Mr Dalli said.
“He never smoked, drank and hated drugs. Paul was a religious boy who would read the Bible before bed each night. Things will never be the same now he’s gone.”
Mr Dalli and Wayne visited the crash scene in the days after Paul’s death.
A white cross, which was placed there by his uncle Jason, and tributes have been displayed in his honour.
The funeral for Paul Gerald Dalli is due to be held today (Thursday) at St Michael’s Catholic Church in Berwick at 10.30am.
