Travel blogger Gabriele Cairo admits responsibility for accident resulting in deaths of three family members

Italian travel blogger Gabriele Cairo has pleaded guilty to causing the deaths of three members of the same family in a horrific car crash in South Australia in November last year. In a sombre session at the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday, Mr Cairo admitted he caused the deaths of Jacqueline Clark and her parents, Cynthia and John, through dangerous driving.

The couple, both part-time travel bloggers, were on their honeymoon Down Under at the time, The Advertiser reported. Cairo also admitted to causing serious harm to his new wife, Elena Perrone, in the same incident. A visibly emotional Ms Perrone attended the hearing and wept as her husband, speaking in English, responded “guilty, Your Honour” to all four charges.

The 28-year-old from La Salle, Italy, was charged following the crash at Everard Central last November and is now pushing for his sentencing to be expedited. Prosecutors claim Cairo was driving a van that collided with a Honda Civic at the intersection of Templeton Rd and Blyth Rd. The tragic accident resulted in the immediate deaths of Cynthia, 84, and Jacqueline, 54, while John, 86, succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. Mr Cairo’s wife, Ms Perrone, was also severely injured.

Last month, Mr Cairo’s legal team indicated that the case was “very likely to resolve” without a trial and expressed his desire to meet the victims’ extended family in person. On Tuesday, prosecutors dropped a charge of aggravated driving without due care. Mr Cairo’s lawyer requested the case be moved to the District Court as soon as possible, citing his client’s overseas residence and temporary visa status.

Magistrate Simon Smart scheduled the next available date for July and remanded Cairo on continuing bail until then. Both the Cairos and the Clark family refrained from making any comments.

This tragic incident has left a community in mourning and serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of dangerous driving. The court proceedings will continue to unfold as Mr Cairo awaits his sentencing in the coming months.