Australian DJ Ajax has reportedly died in Melbourne overnight in a car accident.

Ajax, real name Adrian Thomas, was one of the founding members of the Gang Bang Crew who helped bring electro and dance music to a wider audience both in Australia and worldwide, he was also a well-respected and highly lauded DJ, record label figure, and promoter.

According to TNT Magazine, Thomas was “struck by a car” in Melbourne on February 28th, with little other details emerging,

UPDATE: The Sydney Morning Herald is now reporting that the Australian DJ was killed in a collision with a truck in Melbourne. According to Police, a pedestrian – believed to be Adrian Thomas – was killed when he was struck by a truck in Parkville on February 28th after running onto the road in the early hours of the morning.

“It’s believed the man ran in front of the north-bound truck on College Crescent shortly before 1am. He died at the scene,” a Victoria Police spokeswoman said.

Already the tributes for Ajax’s passing are flooding in across social media, with Sydney nightclub Chinese Laundry – where Ajax was a regular for 7 years – one of the first to break the news.

“Absolutely heart breaking news about one of our long time former resident Dj’s AJAX,” they wrote on their Facebook page.

“Ajax was resident at Chinese Laundry for over 7 years and was a great friend to everyone here & an amazing DJ that was always a crowd favourite. You will be sorely missed by everyone who knew you and everyone at Chinese Laundry. RIP Buddy”.

DJ Ajax helped found the Gang Bang crew with Dan and Beni Single, hotelier Jaime Wirth, Angus Gruzman, and ksubi art director Mikey Nolan.

Following their dissolution, Ajax went on to found Sweat It Out records in 2008, which included such names as Yolanda Be Cool, Oh Snap!, Act Yo Age, Gameboy Gamegirl, Edu K, and D CUP on their roster.

DJ Ajax was also an award-winning DJ in his time, taking out the top spot at inthemix’s DJ wards poll in both 2006 and 2007, as well as named 3D’s World DJ of the year three times. He also regularly performed at major music festivals including Big Day Out, Parklife, Stereosonic, We Love Sounds, and Splendour In The Grass.

The tributes to DJ Ajax continue to flow over social media:

https://twitter.com/catcallmusic/statuses/307237681644064768

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