Tragedy as 9-year-old girl dies after being thrown from a quad her father was driving near Perth
- Layla Lupica dies in ATV tragedy
- The family hopes his death is not in vain.
- WA Government to review regulations
The grieving family of a girl who tragically died in a horrific four-wheeler accident has spoken out.
Layla Lupica, 9, was a passenger in a quad bike being driven by her father on a popular trail in Langford Park in Jarrahdale, southeast of Perth, when the vehicle overturned.
Layla was thrown from the quad and died at the scene, despite desperate attempts to revive her.
His 34-year-old father was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
When the Western Australian government pledged to review quad biking regulations, Layla’s grandfather, Mike Rapaic, broke his silence in the hope that others would learn from the tragedy.
Layla Lupica (pictured) died in a tragic quad bike accident in southeast Perth on Saturday.
“There could be no greater sadness than the death of a young child who had no choice between living or dying,” Rapaic said in a statement.
‘I hope this unfortunate incident is not a death in vain.’
WA Premier Roger Cook also issued a desperate plea.
“I just think it’s a terrible tragedy, and it must have been horrible for those on the scene and horrible for the family, and my heart goes out to them,” he told reporters.
“This is a terribly tragic set of circumstances.”
The state government will now review the quad bike regulations.
“Quad bikes and other forms of off-road vehicles are great adventure gadgets, but they must be treated with great respect and care,” Mr. Cook said.
Police investigating the ATV tragedy returned to the scene (pictured) on Sunday.
The tragedy unfolded at Langford Park (pictured), a popular weekend spot for families.
Police returned to the scene of the tragedy on Sunday with drones to try to reconstruct how the rollover occurred.
No charges have been filed at this early stage.
It could be months before the police figure out how the quad ride went so horribly wrong.
Langford Park is a popular weekend spot for mountain bikers and quad bikers, along with walkers.
Other park visitors were shocked to learn of the tragedy.
It could be months before the police (pictured at the scene) find out how the tragedy unfolded.
“It’s horrendous… you know, people go out for quality family time and something like that happens, and it breaks people’s hearts,” one woman told reporters.
Layla is the ninth person to die in an ATV accident this year and it comes just weeks after a four-year-old girl was killed on a rural property in south-west Queensland.
Investigators urge park visitors who saw the ATV before the rollover to come forward.
