'We are in shock': Tributes flow for two men killed in bus collision

Monday, 16 April 2018

Two pedestrians were struck and killed by a bus in south Auckland were Taylor Charles King, 23 and 34-year-old Jeremy Tokotai Kaukasi.

A mother's heart is broken at the death of her son at the weekend after a bus collided with him and another man.

The fatal collision occurred about 7pm near the intersection of Puhinui Rd and Wyllie Rd in Papatoetoe, south Auckland.

Cordons were put in place on Saturday night, but had lifted by Sunday morning.

On Monday police named the men as Taylor Charles King, 23, from Papatoetoe and 34-year-old Jeremy Tokotai Kaukasi.

Police investigations are continuing into the fatal crash and the deaths have been referred to the coroner.

* Two pedestrians dead in Papatoetoe, Auckland**

Family, friends and colleagues spoke of shock and sadness at the deaths in tributes.

King's mother Leanne wrote about the loss of her 23-year-old son.

'Love you so much, my heart is broken and hurting right now,' she wrote on Facebook.

'I just can't believe that yous (sic) will not be in my life and I will never stop loving u Jeremy and my son Taylor who I will never get to hold you in my arms and hear your voice again.'

Residents said at the time the men had bought fish and chips from a nearby takeaway shop before the fatal accident occurred.

The men weren't working at the time, but were killed only a few hundred metres up the road from where they worked.

Both King and Kaukasi were employed by Altus Enterprises where they did various forms of packing work.

Altus' management team relayed news of their deaths to staff on Monday.

'We are in shock,' chief executive Martin Wylie said.

'The management team are very shaken up - losing two people on the same day.'

Altus Enterprises manager Paul Stoneman said both men had worked at the factory for under a year, but were well liked.

'It's a sad day for us, they were keen young employees. Both of them were great people to be around,' he said.

Stoneman said King had an endearing personality that other staff liked.

'They enjoyed working with him, it just adds to the sense of loss.'

Wylie said the section of Puhinui Rd was a busy one in which many staff walked up to the various food outlets.

It reinforced reminders about public safety, he said.

Wylie said staff wanted to attend the memorial services for the men.

The company hires people with various disabilities and works on a variety of contract packaging work.

He said the company had to work out logistics to get them there once details about memorials were known.

One man, who is friends with both of the deceased, wrote on Facebook that he had only spoken to King on Friday - a day before the fatal collision.

'Too early to die, it's sad to hear this news,' Alopaki Petero said.

Friends and family of Kaukasi also posted online tributes.

'Rest easy my brother, got mad love and respect for you,' Rios Mariotai wrote on Facebook. 'Jeremy was always that happy guy one in million (sic) true friend that became a big bro for me.'

'Always had a smile on his face, always lifted my spirits.'

Another said she was shocked at the news: 'Still can't believe both of them have gone. Two innocent lives gone WAY too soon.'

'RIP Taylor and Jeremy, were good friends and great workers. Will miss your laughs,' Dianne Latoa wrote.

Diversions were in place after the crash. But they had been lifted on Sunday morning, leaving behind only the yellow police markings on the roadway.