Tokoroa family killed in crash near Taupō named

Wednesday, 1 May 2019

David Poutawa's mother Sherilyn Poutawa, speaking after the crash in 2019, said grieving the loss would be a long journey (Video first published in April 2019).

The names of the family killed in a crash on Sunday near Taupō have been released by police.

Tokoroa parents Margaret Luke, 35, and David Poutawa, 42, died alongside five of their children - Trinity, 13, Chanley, 11, Jahnero, 10, Akacia, 8, and Khyus, 7 - when their car collided with a SUV at Atiamuri.

The sole survivor of the crash, 9-year-old David, is recovering from injuries.

Dave Poutawa, and five of his children, died in Sunday's crash north of Taupō.

Scouts NZ manager Jenny Rodgers, who was the sole occupant of the SUV, also died in the crash.

**READ MORE:

The seven children of David Poutawa and Margaret Luke.

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

* Taupō crash that killed eight, third-equal deadliest on New Zealand roads

Sherilyn Poutawa surrounded by whānau as she addresses media at Waikato Hospital on Tuesday.

* 'Longstanding' Scouts NZ member one of eight killed in crash

* Grandmother of Taupō crash victims: 'Words can't describe the anguish we're experiencing'**

A Givealittle page has been created to help the Poutawa-Luke whānau with 'the care and upbringing' of the surviving boys from the family, along with other costs that may arise. A son, Legacy, aged 12, was not in the car.

On Tuesday, mother of David, Sherilyn Poutawa, told media words couldn't describe 'the anguish our whānau are experiencing'.

She had been waiting at home with Legacy when news broke of the crash.

The two surviving children were surrounded by a 'very big, loving family, a close unit', Poutawa said.

When the time was right, the pair would go back to Hawke's Bay, to be closer to whānau.

Tokoroa North, Tokoroa Intermediate and Tokoroa High School confirmed several of their students had been involved in the crash.