Devastated friends of a teenager who died when his ute slammed into a fence in Sydney's west overnight have remembered him as a young man who would "do anything in the world for his mates".
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Nathan Balzano, 19, was driving along Ninth Avenue at Llandilo, near Penrith, just before 8pm on Monday when he lost control of his ute and slammed into a fence, which had been erected at a construction site on the semi-rural road.
The impact crushed the front of the P-plater's vehicle and left car parts scattered over the road.
Residents who heard the smash immediately phoned emergency services, who arrived at the scene within minutes.
They could not revive Mr Balzano, a former Xavier College student, who died just down the road from his old school. No one else was in the vehicle at the time of the crash.
As news of the tragedy spread, devastated family members arrived at Ninth Avenue and tried to comfort each other.
Mr Balzano had taken great pride in his ute, posting many photographs of it on his Facebook page. In February, he posted a photo of the vehicle parked next to a black Subaru with the caption: "Ride together die together".
His shocked friends shared news of the crash online overnight, expressing their despair at his death.
"I was hoping this was all a dream, but it's reality. I can't explain the feeling that hit me reading this. I'm so sorry Nate," a friend, Jessica, wrote.
Another friend, Jake, said it "just doesn't feel real".
"Don't take anything for granted as it can be taken away within an instant. Don't even know how to feel," he said.
"Thinking back through school, playing oztag, having a laugh or even working together [never] did I ever think this day would come.
"Young honest bloke who would do anything in the world for his mates and the ones he loved. Gone way too soon.
"Rest easy my brother."
Another friend, Skylar, described Mr Balzano as "such a beautiful person".
Officers from the Penrith Local Area Command set up a crime scene on Ninth Avenue overnight and are investigating the cause of the crash.
Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.
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