Local newsagent Surinder Singh Atwal, who knew Ms Best and Mr Ruthven said: "I feel so sad for Adam and Jade, I knew them both but my heart, especially, goes to the girl.
"She was a little fighter, she had already been so brave battling cancer and had only been given the all-clear about a month or so ago. I used to salute her every time I saw her.
"We'd chat a bit, when she'd lost all her hair I'd tell her she was still beautiful because she was.
"As a parent this is what you dread ever happening to you - that one night you will get a knock at the door or a phone call."
Mr Atwal described Adam as a "hard-working lad".
He added: "I'd only been speaking to him earlier that day. He'd just jacked his job in at the pizza place next to here and told me he was starting to buy and sell cars.
"He loved his cars. He was just a young lad, trying to make ends meet and do the best for his family."
Fire brigade watch commander Mike Smith said: "One man was pronounced dead at the scene.
"Members of the public were trying to help the others when we arrived and they had been pulled out of the vehicle.
"We tried basic life support but the other two died at the scene very soon after."
Around 20 bunches of flowers had been left by friends and family at the scene on Monday.
One message read: "RIP JADE. We love you will always miss you. All your Denholme girlies."
Another read: "My gorgeous baby sister. I'll love you for ever and ever. Miss you so much already."
Police Chief Superintendent Angela Williams, said: "We believe it was only this vehicle with these three people in who were involved in the incident."
She said initial inquiries "suggest high speeds were involved" but was unable to say how fast.
She added: "All these people came from Denholme, it is just a small village just a few miles away...
"This will really have wrecked that community and upset them because all these people were from there, and obviously our thoughts are going out to the families."
