Former X Factor star dies after crashing car into tree

A 19-year-old former X Factor star has died after his car crashed into a tree on the Barrier Highway, near Burra, in South Australia.

Nathaniel O’Brien, who was a contestant on the Channel Seven reality singing show last year, had just performed at the Burra Country Music Festival on Sunday morning and was en route to perform at the Tea Tree Gully Hotel in Adelaide when the crash occurred at about 11am.

He died at the scene and no one else was injured in the incident.

His social media pages have been flooded with condolence messages, with fans and family remembering him as ‘a beautiful soul’. Singer Natalie Bassingthwaighte, who was O’Brien’s mentor on the reality singing show, tweeted a tribute to the budding artist.

My heart goes out to Nathaniel O’briens family after hearing of his tragic passing. What a spectacular young man with the voice of an angel

— Nat Bassingthwaighte (@nataliebassing) November 8, 2015

X Factor host, Luke Jacobz, also paid tribute to the singer on social media.

Ex XFactor contestant Nathaniel O’Brien sadly passed today. Thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this sad time. — Luke Jacobz (@lukejacobz) November 8, 2015