John Bato Obituary, Death – A Melbourne man, John Bato, who tragically lost his life after being struck by a car whose driver allegedly fell asleep at the wheel, is being remembered as a kind and caring individual. John, a 63-year-old retiree, was out for his usual morning walk on Saturday when the incident occurred. Around 10 a.m., as he walked along Dalton Road in Epping, a car veered off the road, mounted the footpath, and struck him. John died at the scene from the impact.
The crash site has since become a place for mourners, with growing floral tributes left by family and friends, as they try to process the immense loss. John’s family is devastated, particularly his brother, Bill Bato, who described him as always loving and compassionate. Bill expressed his shock and sorrow over the sudden tragedy. “It’s so sad that he disappeared this way, it’s ridiculous. I’m still coming to terms with it,” Bill said. “It shocked us. Those couple of minutes have ruined our lives forever.”
According to police, the driver of the vehicle, a 27-year-old man, was asleep behind the wheel at an intersection moments before the car veered off course. The vehicle mounted the curb, broke through a pedestrian crossing barrier, and struck John, continuing to travel along the footpath before crashing into a pole and a nearby building.
The driver sustained serious injuries from the crash and was taken to the hospital under police guard. He remains in a stable condition as authorities await his medical clearance to formally interview him. The investigation into the crash is ongoing, with detectives gathering details surrounding the tragic incident.