Tributes continue for a Ballan man who died after his car burst into flames in a road smash.
Nik Barbara, 21, died at the scene of the fiery collision on the Western Freeway just after midday last Tuesday.
Police are still determining what caused the accident, which resulted in major road closures and delays.
Friends of the 21-year-old car lover took to social media to convey their shock.
“Rest in peace, Nik, so many memories,” friend Chris Psaila wrote.
“I’ll never forget and always take with me from when we were seven to eight years old, going away on hunting trips with our dads, doing trips every couple of weeks! Just the four of us. I know you will be one very happy man, mate, next to ya dad, smiling, looking down on all of us.”
Witnesses tried to save Mr Barbara, pulling him from the car and conducting CPR.
Friends of Mr Barbara, who was well known in Ballan, struggled to comprehend the loss.
“Sitting here in a puddle of tears just wishing this wasn’t real,” Jen Ward wrote.
“I watched you grow from this charming lil (sic) hunter following every footstep of your Dad to the great young man everyone loved.”
The death took the road toll to 156, up almost 13 per cent on the same time last year.
A GoFund Me page has been set up to cover Nik’s headstone costs.
To donate, visit gofundme.com/2efks3uc
– Ballarat Courier
