Federal crash: Two victims named, man facing charge after serious crash on Bruce Highway

The friend of a young woman killed in the shocking Bruce Highway crash on Friday morning has revealed a tragic sliding doors moment before the deadly accident.

A good Samaritan picked up a young mother who flagged him down at 4am before they and another innocent stranger were wiped out by an allegedly stolen car.

The crash that has shocked the state is being investigated as a domestic violence homicide.

The man police believe was inside that car, Rafferty Rolfe, 25, was the sole survivor of the fatal crash which involved three vehicles on the Bruce Highway at Federal on Thursday morning, killing three people and leaving a vast trail of debris and twisted wreckage.

Rafferty Rolfe was the alleged occupant of the stolen vehicle.

Rafferty Rolfe was under police guard in hospital.

Police believe Rolfe was in the car which was chasing and allegedly trying to ram a silver Nissan Navara being driven by a 65-year-old good Samaritan who had picked up Gypsy Satterley, 25, on the side of the road.

But the vehicle lost control and veered into an oncoming car in the other lane.

Rolfe was last night charged with stealing the vehicle that was allegedly involved in the horror crash.

Gypsy Satterley

Gypsy Satterley

Ms Satterley, who police say was in a relationship with Rolfe, and the driver of the Nissan, as well as a 38-year-old alpaca breeder and Imbil resident Jessica Townley in the third vehicle, died at the scene.

Rolfe survived and was taken to hospital in a serious condition.

A close friend of Ms Satterley said she was a “beautiful person” and a mother of two who had opened her home to Rolfe three weeks ago when he was in need.

“She was meant to be at my house last night but I missed her call and she never showed,” she said.

“This time there was no tomorrow.

Jessica Townley died in the crash two days after her birthday.

“Her brothers and sisters are devastated along with her mother and father, we are all so shocked.

“She’s a beautiful person who deserved more than life gave her. She never deserved this at all.”

Ms Townley celebrated her 38th birthday on July 19, and was the sole occupant of a blue Great Wall utility that was hit as it travelled south on the highway.

She was critically injured and died minutes after paramedics arrived at the scene.

Homicide police are assisting Sunshine Coast Criminal Investigation Branch investigate the triple fatal.

The aftermath of the triple-fatal crash on the Bruce Highway at Federal. Picture: 7 News

Two of the vehicles that were involved in the crash. Picture: 7 News

Superintendent Ben Fadian confirmed the Isuzu MU-X had been stolen on Thursday in a terrifying carjacking at Gympie, and had been spotted by police later that day.

The owner, 31-year-old Gympie woman Bec Alexander, had returned to her parked car in Young St when Rolfe is alleged to have approached the car and opened the driver’s door before threatening her with a knife, demanding the car.

Ms Alexander complied and was able to tell her three children to also get out of the car.

The man drove off in the white Isuzu MU-X.

Emergency services at the scene of a serious crash on the Bruce Highway at Federal.

About 5.30pm on Thursday, police tried to intercept the stolen car on the Bruce Highway at Curra but were unsuccessful.

“At no stage did the QPS try to pursue that vehicle after the vehicle decamped from them,” Superintendent Fadian said.

Just hours later they were called to the horrific crash scene which witnesses described as “confronting”.

Videos taken at the crash scene show the Navara crumpled against a barrier and debris strewn across both southbound lanes of the highway.

Superintendent Ben Fadian. Photo: Elizabeth Neil

QAS Sunshine Coast Acting Director Nigel Jones provided updates from paramedics at the scene. Photo: Elizabeth Neil

Another vehicle appears to be crumpled and charred on the other side of the ute.

The footage shows a group of paramedics huddled around a person on the ground metres from the wreckage.

QAS Acting Director Nigel Jones said two victims were killed on impact, but paramedics tried to save the third.

“On our crew’s arrival, tragically two patients were declared deceased, with the third critical patient passing away unfortunately while in the care of QAS while on scene,” Mr Jones said.

Mr Jones said the scene was “quite confronting”.

Rolfe was found at the scene and taken to hospital with serious head injuries. He remains at Sunshine Coast University Hospital under police guard.

Bec Alexander, whose car was involved in the crash. Picture: Facebook.

Superintendent Fadian said the investigation was evolving rapidly and confirmed Rolfe was known to police.

A witness to Friday morning’s crash, Roscharna Bowman, said she was at the scene right after the incident happened before cars started to pile up.

“We were just in shock, the car was smooshed up against the concrete wall between the lanes, and bits of the wreckage on the northbound lanes as well,” she said.

Originally published as Federal crash: Two victims named, man facing charge after serious crash on Bruce Highway