'Beautiful' family killed in Atiamuri crash were planning wedding, says neighbour

Monday, 29 April 2019

Eight people were killed in the crash on State Highway 1 near the intersection of Ohakuri Rd on Sunday.

A family from Tokoroa understood to have died in the crash that killed eight people on Sunday were looking forward to a wedding next month.

A 9-year-old boy is fighting for his life after a crash near Taupō killed a van's driver, six passengers, and the driver of an SUV.

A neighbour of the family, Ivan Meyers, said he was told of the family's death on Monday morning.

A couple and their six or seven children lived in a butter yellow house on a residential street in Tokoroa, Meyers said.

**READ MORE:

Tokoroa resident Ivan Meyers was told of the family's death on Monday morning.

* Eight killed in two-vehicle crash near [Taupō

](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/112300352/people-injured-in-serious-crash-near-taup)* April set for deadliest NZ road toll in 10 years

* Road death toll for 2019 was significantly lower than last year - until today

* Deadly deja-vu as toll soars with five more deaths across country**

'They've only been here a few months,' Meyers, who has lived in the area for 41 years said tearfully.

He understood the couple had planned to get married in May.

'Very nice people, six or seven kids. Beautiful people, very polite.

'You wouldn't know they had any kids. Very well behaved.'

Meyers spoke with the mother often, who was friendly and open, he said. The children went to Tokoroa North and Tokoroa High School, he said.

The 9-year-old survivor is a 'very nice boy,' Meyers said.

The mother did washing every day, but the latest load had been left outside in the rain for a few days, Meyers said.

'The curtains have been closed for the last few days.'

Nobody was home at the family's property on Monday. Work boots and a pair of children's shoes were left on the doorstep.

Three schools left reeling

The children attended Tokoroa High, Tokoroa Intermediate and Tokoroa North School, which issued a joint statement on Monday.

'There has been a tragic accident that has affected our whole community, in particular Tokoroa North School, Tokoroa Intermediate and Tokoroa High School.

'We can confirm students from our schools have been involved but we cannot confirm names as they have yet to be released by the police.

'We are currently putting support systems in place to support our staff, students and their whānau. This is our priority at this time.'

'ABSOLUTE TRAGEDY'

The crash happened at 10am Sunday on a gentle bend south of the settlement of Atiamuri, about 30km north of Taupo and 20km south of the family's Tokoroa home.

Police said they were unsure exactly how many people had been killed due to the 'catastrophic' nature of the crash. It wasn't until Sunday evening they confirmed eight people were dead and the critically injured boy was the sole survivor. One of the dead was the driver of an SUV involved in a head-on collision with the family's Honda Odyssey peoplemover.

Inspector Brent Crowe told media at the scene one vehicle had crossed the centreline.

'It appears, for whatever reason, one of the vehicles has crossed the incorrect side of the road on a moderate bend.'

It had been raining and the roads were wet at the time, Crowe said.

'To describe the scene behind us as a complete tragedy would be an understatement,' he said.

'Our main priority, our main focus at the moment is to ensure we extract the deceased, look after the deceased and take care of them for their families.'

'EVERYONE WAS GONE'

Tokoroa Volunteer firefighters described the horrific scene they encountered as they arrived at the crash with few survivors to help.

Firefighter Eugene Healey was among the first to check the white van for survivors.

'I should have stayed back. It was pretty horrific, what we were seeing.'

Debris, including a red booster seat, was strewn all along the highway and the road was slippery with rain and petrol, volunteer Colin Cooper, who has been in the brigade for 17 years, said.

He began looking for car occupants, who had been ejected from the vehicles.

'It's the worst job I've been to,' he said. 'Our way back here to the station was quiet.

'Our driver, Joey put the radio on and we started to talk. When we got back to the station we had a bit of a counselling talk to clear our minds.'

PREVIOUS CRASH ALSO CLAIMED A FAMILY

The crash comes less than a month after five family members were killed on Tirohanga Rd, about 15 kilometres away.

A west-bound Ford Falcon had crashed into a gum tree tree, killing all occupants, except 11-year-old Isaac Morgan-Rangikataua, who was seriously injured.

His father, cousin and three school-age sisters all died at the scene.