A popular rugby player has died in a terrible car accident.
Joseph ‘Joe’ Simpkins was the driver of a car that crashed on the Tonkin Highway near Perth Airport at about 1.45am on Sunday.
Mr Simpkins’ vehicle crashed into a barrier at the side of the road. 7News reported.
The 28-year-old played and coached at Kalamunda Rugby Union Club in Perth.
In a message sense, the club revealed the devastating news to its members on its Facebook page on Monday.
“We have tragically lost our man Joey Simpkins,” it said.
‘He was loyal to his loyal friends and was loved and respected in Kala and the wider rugby community.
‘His loss leaves THE BIGGEST VOID in the hearts of many.’
Joseph “Joe” Simpkins, 28 (pictured), was the driver of a car that crashed on the Tonkin Highway near Perth Airport at about 1.45am on Sunday.
Mr Simpkins (pictured) was a fixture at his rugby club, where he started as a youth player and progressed to the senior level. He was currently coaching the under-15s while recovering from his knee injury.
The rugby club also said their beloved member always had a smile.
‘His kindness, infectious laugh and incredible gift for bringing people together around a good story will be sorely missed.’
The club said Mr Simpkins had started out at the club as a youth player but had worked his way up to Premier League level.
He had recently been coaching younger teams while “rehabilitating from a knee injury.”
A RugbyWA spokesperson told 7News discussions were underway on how best to honour Mr Simpkins’ memory and service to the game in a “fitting manner”.
“The tragic events of Sunday morning have deeply affected us all,” they said.
‘The club committee will meet tonight to discuss how best to support members and the wider community during this incredibly difficult time.
“As this is a deeply personal matter for the entire club community, we will be guided by and respect their decisions on how they choose to remember him.”
Tragically, Mr Simpkins crashed into a road barrier (pictured)
The popular rugby player (pictured) will be honoured for his service to the sport.
It was a horrific weekend on Western Australia’s roads, with four people killed, including Mr Simpkins.
A single-vehicle crash in Yalgoo has claimed the lives of a 33-year-old mother, a nine-week-old baby and a 21-year-old woman.
The passengers were returning to Geraldton after attending a funeral in Meekatharra when their Toyota Hilux overturned at about 10.50pm on the Geraldton-Mount Magnet Road.
There were three other people in the vehicle and all were taken to hospital.
A 22-year-old man is in critical condition and a 43-year-old man and a 22-year-old man are in stable condition.
The state has recorded its highest death toll for this time of year in more than a decade, with 114 lives.
Traffic Safety Commissioner Adrian Warner said the number one cause of the state’s high statistics is speeding, which is “preventable.”
