Too young

By Jade Lawton and Melissa Meehan
TRIBUTES have flooded in for 20-year-old Osman Ahmady, who was killed when his car rolled near Nyora on Friday night.
Within hours of his death, hundreds of local teenagers had joined tribute groups in memory of the Pakenham man on the social networking website, Facebook.
Groups of mourners also flocked to the crash site on the South Gippsland Highway.
On Saturday, police and CFA shielded the devastated group from oncoming traffic as they paid tribute to their friend, a former student of Pakenham Secondary College.
Leading Senior Constable Gary Silk, of Loch Police, said the incident was “very tragic for all concerned”.
He said that about 11.30pm last Friday the 20-year-old was driving a Mitsubishi coupe west along the South Gippsland Highway and “lost control on the slight left-hand bend”.
“The vehicle left the road and collided with several trees. The vehicle then bounced in to a deep drain and came to a stop on its roof,” he said.
“Passing motorists saw the car and stopped to assist but there was nothing they could do.”
The Gazette believes that Mr Ahmady was on his way home after a shift at Leongatha KFC.
Brianna Butcher, a friend and founder of one of the Facebook tribute groups, said Mr Ahmady was “always smiling”.
“He was a great friend to everybody, everybody loved him and he will be missed by everyone,” she said. “Never forgotten or replaced, he will stay forever in our hearts.”
Ms Butcher said she heard the news from friends on Saturday.
Other friends have left countless heart-felt online tributes to Mr Ahmady, who was also a regular at Pakenham’s Fitness Factory.
“You were a great guy Ozzy, you always had a smile on your face, always made a joke. The thought that you’re gone is tragic. RIP OZZY,” one mourner wrote.
Fitness Factory co-owner Natasha Gauld said she, fellow gym owner Steve Wilsmore and the rest of the gym community were shocked.
“Someone like Ozzy doesn’t come along every day. Even at that age he had time for everybody, and everyone is devastated by this … he had time to stand and chat to everybody and everyone felt like he was a close friend.
“He studied hard and worked hard and had his heart set on joining the police force in the next 12 months. He encouraged so many people with his commitment. He was blessed to have a loving caring older brother who was his best friend and he should be very proud of himself for loving and caring so much for his little brother.”
Leading Sen Const Silk said police returned to the crash site on Saturday after reports of a large group of people walking on the road.
“We went down and basically protected the friends of the deceased – they were standing on the corner and cars could not see until they were right on them,” he said.
“But we did our best to shield them from the traffic and still let them mourn.
“It is tragic to lose someone so young.”