The parents of a young mother killed in a triple-fatal crash south of Gympie say the man who was helping her “deserves a medal”.
Key points:
- Two mothers and a 65-year-old good Samaritan died in the crash
- Gypsy Satterley’s family say the man who stopped to help her is a hero in their eyes
- A 25-year-old Yandina man has been charged with armed robbery
Gypsy Satterley, 25, died when the car she was in was allegedly chased and rammed into oncoming traffic by a stolen SUV on the Bruce Highway at Federal in the early hours of Friday morning.
The 65-year-old driver of the car she was travelling in and an oncoming driver, Jessica Townley, also died in the head-on collision.
The ABC understands the 65-year-old, from Hay Point south of Mackay, had earlier come to Ms Satterley’s aid.
The man has not yet been identified.
Police had previously said Ms Satterley and the man did not know each other before that night.
Ms Satterley’s family said in a statement that man was a “hero” in their eyes.
“We are absolutely devastated over this horrendous crash and events,” they said.
“We send our deepest condolences to everyone impacted by this tragedy.
“Gypsy was a kind soul and would never have wanted anyone hurt.
“Gypsy’s parents are very grateful to the man that stopped to help her.
“We will always remember that he stopped to help her and is a hero in our eyes and deserves a medal, and are so sorry that he lost his life and the other innocent driver that was involved.”
Ms Satterley — a mother of two girls — and the man died on impact.
Ms Townley, 38, died at the scene. The alpaca breeder from Imbil was an “animal-loving” fiancee and stepmother to two, according to an online tribute, and “didn’t stop till the sun went down”.
The sole survivor of the crash, Rafferty Rolfe, has been charged with armed robbery and is due to appear at Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday.
The Yandina 25-year-old was in a relationship with Ms Satterley, police said.
Police allege he stole an SUV at knifepoint from a woman with her three children in Gympie on Thursday.
About an hour later, police made an unsuccessful attempt to intercept him at Curra, north of Brisbane.
He remains at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, in a stable condition.