“He fought bravely for his life, but…”: Police Deliver Heartbreaking News About Teenage Boy After Narre Warren Car Crash, as Shocked Melbourne Community Shares Outpouring of Grief

Melbourne is in mourning tonight after police confirmed the tragic death of 17-year-old Aryan Sharma, the Narre Warren teenager who fought for his life in intensive care for more than 36 hours following a horrific single-vehicle crash on Princes Highway late Sunday night.

In a brief but devastating update issued at 7:45 p.m. this evening, Victoria Police homicide squad detective Senior Sergeant Mark Thompson said:

“Aryan fought bravely for his life, but despite the best efforts of emergency services and medical staff at Monash Medical Centre, he succumbed to his catastrophic injuries shortly after 6 p.m. today. Our thoughts are with Aryan’s family, his school friends and the Narre Warren community who have held him in their hearts since the moment he was airlifted from the scene.”

The crash occurred at approximately 11:12 p.m. on Sunday 23 February when the white Toyota Corolla driven by Aryan left the roadway on the Princes Highway near the intersection with Webb Street, struck a large gum tree and rolled multiple times before coming to rest on its roof in a drainage ditch. First responders described the scene as “horrific”: the car was torn in half, debris scattered over 80 metres, and the teenage driver trapped inside with life-threatening injuries.

A RACV CareFlight helicopter was tasked within minutes. Paramedics worked for more than 40 minutes to extricate Aryan, who suffered multiple fractures, severe head trauma and internal bleeding. He was placed in an induced coma at the roadside before being flown directly to Monash Medical Centre’s trauma unit. Doctors described his condition overnight Sunday and all day Monday as “critical but stable”, giving the community fragile hope.

That hope was extinguished this evening.

Aryan was a Year 12 student at Fountain Gate Secondary College, where he was known as a quiet, polite young man with a passion for soccer and mathematics. Teachers described him as “a gentle soul who always had a smile” and “the kind of student staff and students gravitate toward”. He had recently been accepted into a Bachelor of Commerce program at Monash University and was due to begin orientation in a few weeks.

His family – Indian-born parents who moved to Australia when Aryan was three – have asked for privacy but released a single photograph of their son in his school uniform, smiling broadly. A family friend read a short statement outside the hospital this evening:

“Aryan was our light. He loved his little sister, he loved football, he loved learning. He was kind to everyone. We are broken, but we are so proud of the beautiful boy he was. Thank you to every doctor, nurse, paramedic and police officer who tried to save him. We will carry him in our hearts forever.”

The crash site remained closed for most of Monday as specialist crash investigators from the Major Collision Investigation Unit reconstructed the sequence of events. Preliminary findings indicate the vehicle was travelling at high speed – possibly in excess of 130 km/h in a 100 km/h zone – when it veered left for unknown reasons. There is no evidence of braking or corrective steering before impact. Police have not ruled out mechanical failure, distraction or medical episode, but speed is a “significant factor”.

No other vehicles were involved. Toxicology results are pending.

The Narre Warren community has responded with an overwhelming outpouring of grief. A makeshift memorial has grown rapidly at the crash site: flowers, soccer balls, candles, school blazers, handwritten notes and a mountain of blue-and-gold ribbons – the colours of Fountain Gate Secondary. By midday today more than 300 people had gathered there in silence. Many were classmates who had spent Monday crying in school corridors.

A GoFundMe page set up by the school’s student leadership team to support the family and establish a scholarship in Aryan’s name surpassed $180,000 within 18 hours. Messages from strangers across Australia and India read: “You didn’t know him, but he sounds like the son every parent dreams of.” “Rest easy, Aryan. Melbourne will never forget you.”

Victoria Police Commissioner Shane Patton addressed the public this evening:

“This is every parent’s worst nightmare. A young life full of promise stolen in an instant. We will leave no stone unturned in determining exactly what happened on that highway. To the Sharma family – the state of Victoria grieves with you.”

The tragedy has reignited calls for stricter enforcement of speed limits on outer-suburban highways and renewed investment in road safety infrastructure. Member for Narre Warren South Sonya Kilkenny announced she will raise the issue in state parliament next week.

For now, the focus remains on a family that has lost its only son.

Aryan Sharma was 17 years old. He loved mathematics, soccer and making his little sister laugh. He had his whole life ahead of him.

A nation weeps with his parents tonight.

Anyone with information about the crash is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.