Four Samoan Seasonal Workers die in a car accident in Australia

By Lagi Keresoma

Apia, Samoa – 13 November 2023:  Four young Samoan men under the Labour Mobility scheme in Australia have been confirmed dead after the car they travelled hit a tree then spinned around and burst into flames.

The incident happened yesterday morning at Victoria, Melbourne.

According to 9News, the four men have been identified as David Gasologa, Alesana Anitelea, Aperaamo Tapelu and Darrick Amouta Peleti.

All were recruited by the Murphy Farms Company.

It is believed the men rented a car and visited a friend and on returning to their work residence, the car “ploughed into a tree and burst into flames in Piries, near Mansfield.”

Of the four deceased, Anitelea has been in Australia for four months and Gasologa was recently recruited in the programme. The other two have been with the program since last year.

A police officer taking photos of the remains of the burnt car involved in the accident that killed the four young Samoan workers.

All four, according to family members who spoke with 9News, were working hard to earn money to support their families in Samoa.

One of the deceased was coming to the ends of his term later this month and his family were looking forward to his return.

The 9News report also stated that the police suspected that alcohol was involved and police are investigating if alcohol was a contributing factor.

The incident report said the driver lost control of the car and hit a tree before spinning around then burst into flames.

It is not the first road incidents that have claimed the lives of Samoans on seasonal work in Australia.