Grieving mum’s speed warning

By Rebecca Fraser
A DOVETON mother has urged young car enthusiasts to be aware of the added power they are putting into their cars, following the horrific death of her 20-year-old son just before Christmas.
Jason King died in the week leading up to Christmas after losing control of his car and colliding with a power pole on Power Road, Doveton, dying at the scene.
His mother, Jacqui King, said her son had enjoyed a great and full life and had died doing what he loved– driving his beloved Holden Commodore.
But Ms King said his death should be a horrible warning to young people that cars can kill and people should not speed in windy, residential streets.
She said Mr King had just had a new quick shift converter installed into his car before his death and she had warned him to ‘take things easy’ until he adjusted to the new modification.
“I told him not to put his foot down around corners and that is what I suspect may have happened.
“He knocked off work early as it was Christmas and went to McDonald’s (Doveton) and then dropped into the Prince Mark.
“As far as I know he was coming through Power Road and overtook someone he knew and then never made it home.
“The message I want to relay is that if people want to speed they need to find somewhere safe to do it.
“Somewhere where there is no one else around and if boys are going to do up their cars they need to be careful and aware of the added power,” she said.
Ms King, who lives with Jason’s stepfather, Greg Smart, said her son was loved by all and his three parents, including father Maurie King, would miss the 20-year-old immensely.
She conceded that Christmas had been a tough time for the family and the loss of a child was the hardest experience any parent could go through.
Ms King has two others sons and said she was determined to face her grief and not let it overwhelm her.
She said more than 200 people, including many young friends, turned out to her son’s ‘going away party’ and he was buried to the iconic Australian classic song ‘Working Class Man.’
“The funeral was a bit of a ripper.
“Jason always had a lot of good friends and related to and loved little kids.
“Some of his friends had small children and he loved them and they loved him to pieces and his mates found him such a fun person.
“It was not your normal funeral and we had a lot of young music and it was very spontaneous with group sing-alongs and then everyone came back to our place until 1.30am in the morning.
“We gave him a good going away party,” she said.
Ms King said even though Jason was one of the youngest members of his group of friends many of his mates looked to him for advice and guidance.
“He was always the peacemaker among his friends and always tried to patch the rifts between the different groups.
“He will be sorely missed, that’s for sure,” she said.
Ms King is now in discussions with Casey council to try and have a park bench installed near their home so that her son’s friends can reflect on Jason’s short but full life. There will be a formal coronial inquest into the collision.