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THE tight-knit community of Oberon has been left shattered after a late night accident on Friday killed two young men and left another in hospital with serious injuries.
Emergency services were called to the accident on Burraga Road, Gilmandyke, about 50 kilometres south of Bathurst just after just after 9.10am on Saturday.
Good mates and Oberon Tigers players Jack Fenton, 17, and Luke Foley, 18, were killed.
Wednesday, October 26 would have been Luke’s 19th birthday.
Their friend, Riley McFawn, 19, who was also in the Toyota LandCruiser survived and was aiflifted to Westmead Hospital with serious injuries where he remains in a stable condition.
Oberon Tigers coach Zac Rowlandson said double fatality has left the village in shock.
“Because Oberon’s so small you didn’t just lose a team mate, you’ve lost someone you went to school with, someone you’ve known your whole life,” he said.
Because Oberon’s so small you didn’t just lose a team mate, you’ve lost someone you went to school with, someone you’ve known your whole life.
- Oberon Tigers coach Zac Rowlandson
Mr Rowlandson said Jack (who is from Fosters Valley south of Bathurst) and Luke (from Oberon) were very well known.
“They were both local juniors, they played all their footy there [for Oberon Tigers],” he said.
“Jack was a die-hard Tiger, he’d never entertain an idea of playing with any one else.
“Luke played all his footy here and he was really committed.”
But, Mr Rowlandson said, the two young men were also very well known off the field in Oberon.
“They’ve got a really strong group of friends, they did everything together,” he said.
“It’s hard for anyone in town to not have any association with the boys.
“It’s going to be a fair while for people to process.”
Still clearly shaken by the deaths, Mr Rowlandson said he was grateful that Oberon was so small.
“The only positive is there’s so many people around for support,” he said.
Chifley Local Area Command duty officer Inspector David Abercrombie said a lot is still unknown about the accident.
“It occurred sometime between 11.30pm on Friday and 9am on Saturday,” he said.
“Someone saw the vehicle in a paddock and called us.
“The vehicle has definitely rolled after it left the road, but we don’t know why it left the road.
“The vehicle will be mechanically examined, we’re being very open minded about the cause [of the accident].”
On Monday, Oberon High School principal Ken Barwick posted a Facebook message to the families of the two men who were former students.
“It is with great sadness that we wish to acknowledge the passing of ex-student, Luke Foley and his friend Jack Fenton,” the message read.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of these two young men and the family of ex-student Riley McFawn who is in hospital.”
Mr Barwick said the welfare of Oberon High School’s students and staff is of great concern following the tragedy.
“To offer welfare support we have two counselors, the school chaplain and two year advisers who are accessible through the school day,” he wrote in the message.