A TAIWANESE fruit picker had only been in Tumbarumba for two weeks before she was killed in a fatal car crash on Monday night.
The woman, who was in her 20s and known as ‘Jord’, has been described as a lovely woman who worked hard and was always smiling.
Jord was on her way to buy groceries at the Tumut Coles supermarket with three friends, also fruit pickers, before she died.
The group was travelling down Batlow Road at Laurel Hill when their Mitsubishi Magna station wagon crossed into oncoming lanes and rolled a number of times down an embankment, landing on its roof, just before 5pm.
Fairfax media understands the driver had attempted to correct the car but then had to swerve to avoid another car travelling in the opposite direction.
Jord suffered fatal head injuries from the crash after she was thrown out of the car.
The driver and the two other passengers were taken to Wagga Base Hospital with minor injuries.
They were released yesterday but are deeply traumatised by what had happened.
Jord had been working at Jolly Berries Blueberries in Tumbarumba for two weeks before the accident and is believed to have been picking cherries in Young before this.
Owner Molly Crozier said everyone at the farm was deeply saddened by what had happened.
She said she had spoken to one of the people who had been in the car and they were not planning to stay in Tumbarumba any more because it was “too painful”.
“She was a lovely girl, they were only young kids in their 20s travelling to see Australia,” Ms Crozier said.
“She was a good picker, she tried very hard.
“It’s just dreadful.
“She’d only been here a couple of weeks but you do get to know the people here.
“I rang this morning to see how they (the other people in the car) were going.
“They are OK, they’re coming back tomorrow.
“They had all met here.”
It is understood that the people in the car are not from Australia and English is not their first language.
Police were yesterday still investigating what happened and the woman is yet to be officially identified.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.