The community is rallying around the family of a man killed in a car crash at Balldale, with nearly $20,000 in donations made in just two days.
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Jay Turner, 23, was killed when his Nissan Navara utility hit a tree on the Howlong-Balldale Road on Thursday night.
In a tragic twist his wife, Hannah, discovered the scene after being unable to reach him on his phone.
Mrs Turner said the popular Border mechanic's loved ones were still in shock over his passing.
"It hasn't really settled in - you don't expect someone to just not come home," she said.
"But there certainly has been heaps of support.
"He was super well liked.
"No-one could say a bad thing about him, unless they didn't like his smartarse attitude.
"He was always cracking a joke or hanging s--- on someone."
The late man grew up in Wodonga with family links to Mitta.
He played multiple seasons of football and cricket at Mitta, including a stint as a football captain, and at Wodonga Bulldogs.
Mr Turner had been a diesel mechanic for about five years, after a six-month period driving trucks, and was working at Hehirs Transport.
He was returning home from work at the time of the accident.
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The couple, who met in high school and married at a farm in Brimin on August 10 last year, were about to start building at their 25 acre property in Rutherglen.
"He was only 23," she said.
"At that age you don't have a will, don't have life insurance, it's something that's never crossed my mind, but the support has been amazing."
There had been 177 donations by Sunday, including one of $1500, while others have given several hundred dollars.
Dozens of people also paid tribute to Mr Turner online and offered condolences.
His wife said he wasn't keen on flowers - joking that he had never given her any in their eight years together - but would have wanted his mates to have a beer for him and remember the good times they shared.
Funeral details are being worked out with numbers to be restricted by COVID-19.
The cause of the crash remains unclear with police continuing to investigate the matter.
Maisie Donlen said the fundraiser was started to ease the financial burden on the family.
"We have started this in hope to take some financial pressure of Hannah and family, helping with some funeral costs and long term costs allowing Hannah to take time of work to grieve her soulmate," she said online.
"We greatly appreciate everyone's messages and support during this tough time."
Mrs Turner said she'd had a sick feeling when he didn't return home from work and had gone out to look for him.
People have visited her home in Howlong and at his mother's home in Wodonga to offer support since the crash.
"Everyone has been really supportive," she said.
"A lot of people have left condolences and it's nice having company, people to come and sit with you."
She said the 23-year-old had been keen on trucks and four-wheel-driving.
He also adored the couple's two dogs.
When she searched through his phone for images of the couple, she found more images of the pets, and of vehicles.
"He just had an amazing smile," Mrs Turner said.
"He made everyone feel welcome.
"He would want everyone to have a tinnie for him and think of all the fun times they had together."
