Young lovers from the Gold Coast were among three killed overnight in a horror smash that has devastated their families.
Two cars collided on Rifle Range Road in Upper Coomera at 6pm Sunday, killing 17-year-old Marnie Zuk and her boyfriend Jamie Hunter, 21, at the scene.
Another passenger and Mr Hunter’s cousin, Bryton Thompson, 21, was rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital but died a short time later.
The three were travelling in the same car when it slammed into another vehicle that was being driven by a 28-year-old driver.
The two cars collided on Rifle Range Road in Upper Coomera at 6pm Sunday, killing 17-year-old Marnie Zuk and her boyfriend Jamie Hunter, 21, (pictured together) at the scene
Another passenger and Mr Hunter’s cousin, Bryton Thompson, 21, was rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital but died a short time later
He suffered pelvic injuries and remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Mr Thompson’s father, Arthur Thompson, visited the scene on Monday accompanied by police and fell to the ground, The Courier Mail reported.
Friends and family have flooded social media to pay tribute to the trio, saying they will be sorely missed.
‘Losing a workmate is like losing family,’ friend Billy McKinnon posted.
‘The terrible news I received late last night of a young bloke who works for me passing away in a car wreck will be forever in my mind.
‘It’s always the good people who are taken from us way too soon. Rest In Peace Bryton Thompson you’ll be missed severely mate.’
‘My heart is hurting for the sudden and unexpected passing of our beautiful Marnie Zuk and her partner and his cousin,’ Katrina Crouch wrote.
‘Fly high our precious angel. We love you sweetheart. Watch over your beautiful mum.’
Three young people from the Gold Coast have been killed overnight in a horror smash that has devastated three families
‘Remembering Marnie Zuk…a beautiful girl who laughed and danced around our house many years ago,’ Diana Bryson wrote.
‘You will be celebrated for the gorgeous woman you were becoming. I feel like I’ve lost a daughter…’
Gold Coast High Acuity Response Unit paramedic Gary Berkowitz, who attended the incident, said the scene had been distressing.
‘As paramedics, we’re often called to the worst half an hour of someone’s life,’ he said.
Three of the crash victims were trapped for about half an hour and firefighters had to cut at least one person from the wreckage.
Mr Berkowitz said members of the public also stepped in to help.
Friends and family have flooded social media in tribute to the three young people, saying they will be missed severely
Jamie Hunter (pictured) was among three people who were killed in a horror crash on Sunday
‘I heard there were some people who were suffering from anxiety-related problems from what they saw … I believe some of our paramedics did speak to [them].’
Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler said investigations would determine if speed was a factor, and pleaded with parents to speak with their children about road safety.
‘I would just ask parents out there – please speak to your children, speak to your young adults, tell them they’ve got to slow down, drive to the conditions,’ he told reporters on Monday.
‘This loss of life is needless, it’s preventable and it just shouldn’t happen.’
He said eight people under the age of 22 had died on Gold Coast roads in the past month.
‘Unfortunately our police and emergency services attend these scenes far too frequently,’ he said.
‘Many of our police and partner agencies…have got kids that age. It’s incredible stressful.’
Investigations are continuing and police have urged anyone with dashcam footage who was in the area about the time of the crash to come forward.