At the Dapto Hotel, where Roach's father Ian is the publican, a memorial of flowers and a schooner of beer has been set up on the bar.

``In Memory of Roach, Sadly Missed,'' says a handwritten note that asks patrons to donate money towards Roach's family.

The 19-year-old was due to become a father in a few days.

Long-term family friend Vito Gaudiosi said it was a tragic day for Dapto.

``I spoke to the father early this morning, at about 4am . . . they are very distraught,'' Mr Gaudiosi said on Saturday.

``The whole of the Dapto community is really shattered.''

Mr Gaudiosi said Roach played football with the Avondale Wombats.

``I have known him since he was about five years old,'' he said.

``It is very traumatic for me.

``He was just a really lovely young man with a really cheeky personality and just a beautiful smile.

``You would always see him smiling, you would never see the kid without a smile, a lovely kid.

``It's just an absolute tragedy for his life to be cut so short.''

Roach's footy team played without him on Saturday, dedicating the game to their mate. The team won and will play in the grand final next week.

Meantime, Daniel Schroeder, the 21-year-old Dapto man who survived the fiery crash, is in a serious condition in Royal North Shore Hospital. Police said his injuries were not as bad as first feared.

Police have not released the names of the other two men who died in crash. The driver was a 27-year-old Oak Flats man and the third person was a 24-year-old Farmborough Heights man.