CCTV footage of an alleged car theft, taken hours before the allegedly stolen Mercedes-Benz was involved in a crash that claimed the lives of three people and left a fourth fighting for life in hospital, has been released.

The footage, obtained by Channel 7, shows two hooded youths skulking up to the silver car at a property in Maryborough, about 255km north of Brisbane, about 8.40pm on Sunday.

The youths break into the vehicle and knock over a fence as they drive off.

About two hours later just outside Maryborough, police allege the same car rear-ended a Holden, the impact shunting the Holden into the path of an oncoming Mazda.

The woman driving the Mazda, Torquay nurse Sheree Robertson, 52, died at the scene, as did two females in the Holden, Kelsie Davies, 17, from Oakhurst, and Michale Chandler, 29, of Maryborough.

A 23-year-old woman, a passenger in the Holden, was also flown to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in a critical condition.

There’s been an outpouring of grief from communities in and around the Fraser Coast region, especially in the local Christian community.

Ms Davies, just weeks shy of her 18th birthday, was a Riverside Christian College student, while Ms Chandler was a pastor with Reach Church.

The injured 23-year-old woman is also understood to be a former Riverside student.

Fellow Reach Church lead pastor Darron Hayhoe has taken to social media to pay tribute.

“My heart is saddened, my heart is downtrodden, my heart feels like it’s been walked on,” said Mr Hayhoe in a video posted on Reach Church’s Facebook page on Tuesday morning.

“Michale Chandler was and is one of the most phenomenal young ladies that I know … she was just simply a special, special lady that loved people intentionally and purposefully.

“And to our amazing Kelsie … she was a breath of fresh air.

“What happened was just truly ridiculous.”

Ms Davies’ elder sister Brandi also took to social media on Tuesday morning to honour her little sister.

“My heart has been shattered into millions of pieces,” Brandi Davies wrote. “You were someone I always looked up to, someone who I wanted to be. You were just so perfect to me.

“The purest heart, mind and soul in this horrible world.

“Your big sissy loves you so so much, I know Nana is looking after you up there.”

Fellow nurse Lee Yates has set up an online fundraiser for Ms Robertson’s funeral costs.

In the GoFundMe campaign description, Ms Yates described Ms Robertson as “an amazing human that lost her life to (sic) early”.

Launched on Monday afternoon, the fundraiser by Tuesday morning had raised $5345 of its $15,000 goal.

A 13-year-old Bundaberg boy has been charged with dangerous driving causing death following the crash.

He suffered minor injuries to his foot and is due in Maroochydore Children's Court at a later date.