Young Navan man dies in Perth crash

The Navan man killed in a car crash in Australia at the weekend had been due to fly home just days after the car crash that claimed his life. Christopher Dolan (23) from Tailteann Drive, Windtown, Navan, had travelled to Australia in October and, while he was enjoying his time there, he was ready to come home and was due to return to Ireland yesterday (Tuesday). Instead of looking forward to his return home, his devastated family are now trying to come to terms with the loss of Christopher, the eldest of a family of three. The horrific crash occurred in East Perth early on Saturday morning. It is understood that Christopher was a front seat passenger in a Hyundai Excel car when it crashed into a tree at around 6.20am, local time. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Royal Perth Hospital. The eldest of three children, he leaves behind a younger sister, Megan, and brother, Jamie, as well as his heartbroken mother, Lindsey, and extended family. A memorial Service will take place in Perth today (Wednesday) for Christopher"s friends in Australia. No funeral arrangements can be made in Ireland until his body is repatriated. All four occupants of the car involved in the crash were from Meath and were in their 20s. The car was being driven by Orla O"Reilly (21) from St Ultan"s Terrace, Navan, who remains in hospital in a stable condition. Orla worked as a hairdresser in Tara Mall, Navan, before travelling to Australia on 29th December last and her intention was to spend a year there. She suffered a broken leg, broken ribs, a punctured lung and fractured her vertebrae in the crash. Her sister Shearan said the family got an awful shock when they got the call about the accident. She said Orla spent eight hours in surgery which was a very 'distressing' time for the family. Orla is a daughter of Pascal and Siobhan O"Reilly and her parents are currently making arrangements to travel to Australia at the weekend to be with their daughter. Shearan said that Orla is being treated in the Royal Perth Hospital and will be there for some time. She said the family wanted to pass on their condolences to Christopher"s family and said that they are thinking of them. The back seat passengers in the car were Willie Fogarty from Townspark, Navan, and John Healy from Slane. Willie"s father, Pat Fogarty, said his son was badly injured but 'would be OK' and that he remains in hospital in Perth. Willie suffered head injuries, leg injuries and broke a bone in his neck. Mr Fogarty said it is likely that his son will need to wear a neck brace for a couple of months. Willie Fogarty worked as a motor mechanic in Ireland and had travelled to Australia last April. He had been in Melbourne for several months and had just moved to Perth recently. This is the second time in just over a year that tragedy has struck a Meath family following a car accident in Australia. In November 2007, Kiara Duncan (20) from Kentstown and Colm Reilly (20) from Slane were killed in a car crash in Perth. The driver and another passenger were injured in the accident.