Daniel Bailey, 25, now of Tamworth but raised in Glen Innes, was killed when a 2007 red Jeep Wrangler soft-top in which he was a passenger, ran off the road, felled a power pole and drove through a fence, about 11pm.

It rolled at least once and came to rest on its roof 100 metres from where it left the road.

There were four other people aboard the short-wheelbase Jeep at the time of the crash.

It is only registered to legally carry four people - including the driver.

Police said Mr Bailey died of head injuries at the scene.

The Examiner understands that Mr Bailey moved to Glen Innes with his family from Kootingal when he was about two years of age. He attended Glen Innes Public School and Glen Innes High School until he was 14 or 15, when his family moved to Tamworth.

Friends and family have posted tributes on the Facebook page of Mr Bailey, who worked at The Quality Hotel Powerhouse motel.

“Daniel Bailey, there are no words to express my sadness, only tears,” one friend wrote.

“A beautiful man with a beautiful soul. He will be so missed.”

A 16-year-old male who was thrown from the vehicle was found unconscious at the scene. He was taken to Tamworth Hospital in a critical condition and was on Monday flown to John Hunter Hospital with head and chest injuries, and is in a serious but stable condition.

A 17-year-old male passenger was taken to Tamworth Hospital with a broken arm while an 18 year old suffered only minor injuries as was later released from hospital.

The 22-year-old male driver, who was on his green P-plates, was taken to hospital suffering head lacerations and later released.

He is understood to be assisting police with their inquiries.

Senior Constable Scott Clout of Tamworth Police told the Northern Daily Leader that while speed was not considered to be a factor, they were waiting on blood tests to find out if alcohol had been involved.

Police are preparing a report for the coroner.