Kristoffer Peters, a "fine mechanic" at 24, was killed when his car crashed into a tree and burst into flames after a kangaroo strayed on to a road on the NSW south coast last night.
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Shoalhaven mayor Paul Green said Mr Peters, a mechanic with the council for about seven years, was understood to have been driving home from work when the accident happened on a straight stretch of Callala Beach Road, Callala Beach, about 11pm.
"It's a very sad situation, all those folks that have raised him up from school into a young apprentice into a fine mechanic, it will be a sad day," Mr Green said.
"It will be a very big hit on us all. No one wants to see a young life go like that."
His death would be a shock to the tight-knit community of Callala Beach and it would take some time for everyone to come to grips with the news, Mr Green said.
"You can't begin to imagine what the parents are going through.
"Like I say, this is a young person with his life full on ahead of him.
"He was looking forward to his best days. [It's] just an absolutely tragic accident."
Off-duty police officers came across the crash and tried to help, but Mr Peters died, Shoalhaven Local Area Command duty officer Inspector Joe Thone said.
Police were not able to confirm whether the car burst into flames immediately, or whether the crash was head-on.
Inspector Thone said Callala Beach Road was a rural road surrounded by coastal bushland.
One truck from the Rural Fire Service also attended the crash.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
