Teen learner driver Dexter Morgan Barham and passenger Burgundy-Rose Eden Brown killed in 'horrific' Canterbury crash

Monday, 19 March 2018

Dexter Barham and Burgundy-Rose Brown, both aged 16 and from Christchurch, died in a car crash in North Canterbury on Sunday.

Burgundy-Rose Eden Brown was a music buff, keen singer and dreamed of being an air hostess.

The Christchurch 16-year-old recently completed a hairdressing course and planned to move to Sydney with her family to study tourism. She hoped to travel south-east Asia and the Cook Islands.

Two teenagers are dead after a car crossed the centre line on State Highway 1, near Amberley in North Canterbury.

But a crash ended it all.

Burgundy-Rose, who was usually called Rose, was travelling with Dexter Morgan Barham, a 16-year-old learner driver, south on Glasnevin Rd/State Highway 1, about 2 kilometres north of Amberley, near Christchurch, when he crashed shortly after 6am on Sunday.

The white Nissan Silvia crossed the centre line and collided head-on with a northbound black Holden Colorado, according to police. The pair died at the scene. Three other people – Barham's other passenger and two from the oncoming car – were injured.

Dexter was driving a car that crossed the centre-line and hit an oncoming vehicle.

Best friend Blais Hardwick said she was a 'treasure' who 'lived her life to its very best'.

Dexter was understood to hold only a learner's licence, which meant he was forbidden drive without a supervisor who had held a full licence for at least two years.

'She had all the qualities you'd look for in a friend, from the moment I meet her we grew a beautiful and unbreakable friendship … she was a beautiful human being and she was such a gift to the world.'

Ex-boyfriend Charlie Fraser said she was called Rose by her friends because Burgundy sounded 'too formal'. The pair met at Lincoln High School through mutual friends last year and started dating the day before her 15th birthday.

Family and friends of Dexter and Burgundy-Rose, who was often called Burgundy, have shared their grief on Facebook.

He recalled her as a social butterfly and 'genuinely really happy person'.

'She was a really nice, all round really happy girl … she loved pop and R&B music, she was always finding new songs and sending them to me to see what I thought.'

A friend of Dexter's posted on Facebook that the dead teenager was 'far too young to be taken from this world'.

She would often record herself singing covers and send the videos to friends. When police called to notify him of the crash – which happened two days before her younger sister's birthday – he was in 'utter shock', he said.

Dexter and another teenager in the Silvia, who was injured, attended Shirley Boys' High School. Acting principal Tim Grocott said Dexter left school at the end of last year. The injured boy, who was still a student, was recovering in hospital. He was understood to have a head injury.

A friend of Burgundy-Rose's posted on Facebook saying she was 'a beautiful, intelligent, amazing person' who 'brought so much joy to everyone' around her and had 'so much potential'.

The tragedy had 'hit us really badly', Grocott said, and counselling services were being offered to students.

'We know there's going to be a range of emotions. These are young men and for some of them, this is the first tragedy they have come across. Some boys who knew him [Dexter] well are very upset, as you would understand.'

Dexter, Rose and a third teenager were believed to have been travelling back from Nelson after picking up the white Nissan Silvia there.

Lincoln High School was equally 'devastated by the tragic loss of one of our students', principal Kathy Paterson said.

'Our thoughts are with Rose's family as they come to terms with the loss.'

Family and friends of Dexter and Burgundy shared their grief on Facebook.

Burgundy-Rose's brother Trent Brown posted: 'What I would do to say I love you one more time, to hug you one more time… seriously love you Burgundy Rose and I will forever treasure the moments I spend with you and Dexter I love you guys so much and I'm glad you guys were happy together forever loving you Burgundy (sic).'

It is understood Dexter, the driver on a learner licence, was forbidden to carry passengers without a supervisor who had held a full licence for at least two years. None of the teenagers could have met this criteria. The group were believed to have been travelling back from Nelson after picking up the car there.

'Proof that a couple of bad decision can end in terrible consequence (sic),' a friend of Dexter's posted.

'My thoughts are with their family's especially my bro. RIP Dexter Barham and Burgundy will truly be missed (sic).'

Another friend posted saying the teenager was 'a beautiful, intelligent, amazing person' who 'brought so much joy to everyone' around her and had 'so much potential'.

'It's so unbelievable that you're gone. I am missing you every second Burgundy.'

Another friend of Dexter's posted that he was 'absolutely gutted' to hear the news, while a third said the teenager was 'far too young to be taken from this world': 'I still remember all the good times we had down at the skate park you will forever be missed and never forgotten my bro fly high brother (sic).'

Two men in the Colorado were taken to hospital and the driver was later reported to be in a stable condition and the passenger, comfortable.

A woman who said she was one of the first to arrive at the crash scene said it was 'a horrific sight'.

Police were investigating the cause of the crash, which had brought the 2018 road toll to 86.