THE COOTAMUNDRA and Leeton communities are still trying to come to terms with the tragic deaths of Jake Isbister and Chloe Hardy.
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The pair died instantly when the vehicle they were travelling in came off Petersham Road, Leeton, and rolled several times before landing upside in an irrigation canal in the early hours of Friday.
Facebook has been flooded with tributes to the friends, who were travelling to a campsite at the time of the accident.
Jake is a former Leeton High School student who worked in the agricultural field.
He was a keen fisherman, who enjoyed spending time at the river with his mates.
He also enjoyed four wheel driving.
Jake's sister, Skye, was lost for words over the tragedy but posted a photo tribute to her brother.
The photos showed Jake and with his family in happier times.
Chloe, 17, was a former Cootamundra High School student.
She was known to be a down-to-earth girl who enjoyed spending time on the land.
Chloe was employed at Southern Cross Care Retirement.
Her former principal Neil Reaper said the school would ensure it could support students at this tragic time.
There were several tributes left to both teenagers on Facebook over the weekend.
Brock Pearce left a tribute to Jake who he remembered as a fun loving guy.
"He was just loving life, I'll always remember you bud," he said.
In other tributes friends wrote of Jake's cheeky grin, beautiful laugh and love for life.
"For the day we say goodbye & to the day we meet again, you will always be remembered as that loving bloke with that cheeky smile. Last time we spoke we spoke of a bright future, I will never forget that moment," Kurt Spowart wrote.
Chloe's friends reflected on her bright, vivacious but sweet character.
"I still can't believe this. It's like the worst nightmare. You are one of the loveliest, sweetest young ladies I know. The world has really lost a good one. It's so unfair."
Another friend was unable to comprehend the loss of her friend at such a young age.
"I still can't believe it, every time I think about what's happened it literally makes me feel ill, how such a beautiful young lady could be taken from us so soon. This should never have happened to you Chlo, I'd drop anything in a heartbeat if it meant I could bring you back. Rest easy you beautiful angel until we meet again. RIP Chlo."
The ute was driven by a 19-year-old man who was treated for minor injuries before being arrested by police.
An 18-year-old man travelling in the ute's tray suffered head injuries and remains in a stable condition at Wagga Base Hospital.