Man killed in Qld triple-fatality crash ‘a good Samaritan’

A man who picked up a woman in distress on the side of the road before allegedly being pursued by her partner was a ‘victim of circumstance’, police say, as murder charges are laid.

Rafferty Rolfe (left) has been charged with murder for the high speed crash that killed Gypsy Satterley (top right) and Terry Bishop (bottom right).

A man who picked up a woman in distress on the side of the road before allegedly being pursued by her domestic partner was a “victim of circumstance” and a “good Samaritan”, Queensland police say.

Terry Bishop, 65, was travelling alone on the Bruce Highway, near the small hinterland town of Federal in Queensland, about 3.30am on Friday when he noticed a woman in distress on the side of the road.

Police allege the woman he picked up – 25-year-old Gypsy Satterley – was travelling from Mackay to Brisbane for a family wedding that weekend.

The aftermath of the fatal crash on the Bruce Highway at Federal on Thursday morning, which killed three people. Picture 9News

Detective Superintendent Ben Fadian said in an update on Tuesday, she appeared to have fled just fled the stolen SUV that contained her partner Rafferty Rolfe.

The pair were then allegedly followed Mr Rolfe for about 4km in a northbound direction on the Bruce Highway. Police allege Mr Rolfe them rammed into Mr Bishop’s car, forcing it to spin around.

Gypsy Satterley. Picture: Instagram

He continued to pursue them, striking the car again, before the Mr Bishop’s vehicle collided with the oncoming vehicle of 38-year-old llama farmer Jessica Townsley.

“(Mr Bishop) appears to have been a good Samaritan who helped out a person in distress and helped out a person in distress and he is a victim of circumstance,” Detective Superintendent Fadian said.

“For him and his family, it’s a tragedy. He was doing the right thing, picking up a person in distress on the side of the road, and this tragedy has befallen him.”

Terry Bishop.

Mr Bishop, Ms Satterley and Ms Townsley all died.

Mr Rolfe was found at the scene and taken to Gympie Hospital, before being transferred to Sunshine Coast University hospital where he remains.

Rafferty Rolfe. Source: Facebook.

The 25-year-old has now been charged with their murders and is set to face Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning.

Police said there were no reported incidents of domestic violence between Ms Satterley and Mr Rolfe but that the murder of Ms Satterley was being considered a domestic violence case.