Nowra in mourning after horror crash near Goulburn kills three people

The south coast town of Nowra is in mourning after what was supposed to be a fun weekend away to Canberra for two couples to attend a 21st birthday turned to heartbreak.

Everyone knows everyone in country towns, so when tragedy strikes it hits extra hard.

This week, the south coast town of Nowra is in mourning, after what was supposed to be a fun weekend away to Canberra for two couples — Charlie Quinn and Lachlan Stuckey, and Brooke Sorlie and Aaron French — to attend a 21st birthday turned to heartbreak.

According to police, Mr Stuckey was behind the wheel of the car they were travelling home in on Sunday afternoon when he lost control south of Goulburn, running off the road and killing his three passengers.

Family and friends have led the tributes for Ms Quinn, 18, Mr French, 20, and Ms Sorlie, 21. Ms Sorlie’s father, Svein Sorlie, shared a post in which he revealed his daughter never had the chance to meet her younger sister.

“I promise she will know all about you — your goodness, your fairness and your wonderful soul,” Mr Sorlie, who lives overseas, posted on Facebook.

“They say that God loves flowers, and He certainly picked the best one in you my girl. You are forever in my heart. Dad.”

Aaron French and Brooke Sorlie, who both died in the triple-fatality crash.

Charlie Quinn and her boyfriend Lachlan Stuckey. Charlie was killed in the crash, Lachlan was injured.

Ms Sorlie’s older sister Layla told The Daily Telegraph she was “a beautiful, kind, caring soul”.

“She was loved by many and will be dearly, dearly missed,” she said.

A day earlier, Ms Quinn’s shattered father Scott described his daughter as “the light of our lives”.

“We are heartbroken and sending our love to all the families involved in this absolute tragedy,” he said.

Emergency services respond to the crash in Tarago. Picture: OnScene ACT

While his girlfriend and two friends are dead, Mr Stuckey, 21, remains under police guard in Canberra Hospital recovering from spinal surgery.

The triple fatality in the state’s south has once again turned attention to NSW’s horror road toll, 16 higher than the same time in 2023.

In the past month alone there have been 18 deaths, with many of them on country roads. An elderly woman died at Casino on Wednesday, hours after a 17-year-old boy was killed at Charmhaven on the Central Coast, and a few days on from the death of Blake Hawkins at Gunnedah.

Crash victim Charlie Quinn. Picture: Facebook

Brooke (right) with her father Svein Sorlie and sister Layla. Picture: Facebook

The thing in country towns is, that loved ones are not the only people who mourn.

Nowra woman Nana Hauerslev told The Daily Telegraph the loss of Ms Quinn, Ms Sorlie and Mr French was “tragic” for the community.

“My heart is absolutely breaking for all the families involved. Words simply cannot express the sorrow,” Ms Hauerslev said.

Serena Copley, who tutored Ms Quinn and is a member of the Shoalhaven Council, said “the impact of this incident will have far reaching consequences for our community”.

“Improving the region’s road network is critical to prevent more loss of life and for other families to not experience the pain and loss these families will suffer for the rest of their lives,” Ms Copley said.

“I send my deepest condolences and sympathies to everyone connected to these young people.”

The crash scene near Goulburn. Picture: OnScene ACT

Shoalhaven Mayor Amanda Findley said she and the entire council were thinking of all the families involved.

“Our hearts and compassion are with the families and friends of the three young people who were killed in the crash,” Mayor Findley said.

“Many across the Shoalhaven are impacted by the deaths of our young people, and we encourage all people to reach out if the burden of grief is too hard to bear.

“Losing our young people too early and in such circumstances reminds us all of the fragility of life and the sorrow that loss brings.”

Other locals used the phrases that best describe their feelings, saying they were “heartbroken for the families” and that “no words” could explain the devastation that would be experienced.

While the community of Nowra is hurting currently, in the days to come they will band together to support the families and friends of the three young people.

That is just what country towns do.