Five killed in Tauranga crash: Firefighter finds flatmate in wreck

Tuesday, 2 August 2016

A firefighter called to the aftermath of a crash which claimed five lives near Katikati discovered he knew the victims.

The victims are father and son, Koli Vaipulu (son) and Sitiveni Vaipulu (father), Halani Fine, Sione Teulaka, and Samuela Taukatelata.

Five Kiwifruit packers have been killed after smashing into a vehicle at a highway intersection.

RNZ reported firefighter Simione Vakasiuola, who was among those on the scene, was a friend and housemate of Fine.

'It was a very very sad thing to look at, I mean, you look at how people you know died,' Vakasiuola told RNZ.

His colleagues worked to recover the bodies.

Halani Fine's sister said he carried a warm smile, musical talents and a warm spirit.

Many of the workers' colleagues saw the unladen logging truck smash into their car.

The men were leaving the Aongatete Kiwifruit Packhouse after the 8pm shift when the driver pulled out of Dawsons Rd onto State Highway 2.

Koli Vaipulu, who was killed alongside his father, Sitiveni Vaipulu.

None of them survived the impact.

Halani Fine's sister described him as kind, loving and a humble young man.

Sameula Taukatelata was killed in the crash near Katikati.

'Halani was very active in the church and passionate about the Lord's work. In church and in his community, Halani served as role model/brother to many.

'I can't tell whether it was his contagious smile, musical talents or warm spirit that made him so lovable. Maybe all three.'

Sitiveni Vaipulu was killed along with his son, Koli.

Fine was from a small village in Tonga called Ha'ateiho.

According to his Google profile he lived on Auckland's North Shore and went to Unitec.

Allan Dawson, Aongatete managing director, speaks about the crash at the scene.

Fine also worked on a Youth Development project with Minister of the Methodist Church Tevita Finau.

Friend and co-worker of the Vaipulus, Blair Robertson said Steven (Sitiveni) worked with his fiance, Alexandria.

Five people have died in a car accident outside Tauranga on Tuesday night.

'Koli was basically like a big brother to her and Steven was like a father to her. The two of them were just pretty amazing individuals. There's nothing they wouldn't do for anybody.

'They would bend over backwards, drop anything to come and assist - they're just two top guys.

The scene where five people died in a car crash near Tauranga.

'I think Koli has 13 other brothers and sisters back home and Steven has his wife back home, which is a heart breaking thought.'

Five Tongan kiwfruit packhouse workers have been killed in a horror smash near Katikati. The five men were pulling out on to the state highway after finishing their shift when they were hit by an empty logging truck.

COLLEAGUES SHOCKED

Workmates and friends gathered outside their workplace sharing hugs and tears on Wednesday morning.

Only 12 hours earlier they had been working with their friends.

When the shift finished at 8pm, the five men clocked out and were heading home to Katikati for the night.

Five people are dead after a crash between a car and a truck on SH2, Aongatete, in Tauranga.

They turned right onto State highway 2 into the path of an oncoming southbound logging truck.

It was a horror scene for workers at the packhouse, who were close enough to hear the bang.

The intersection of Dawsons Rd and State Highway 2, where the crash happened.

Some ran out to find their friends dead in wreck.

The packhouse was closed on Wednesday but those who knew the men were gathering inside to support each other.

Allan Dawson, managing director at Aongatete, was visibly upset about the loss of what he said were 'willing and friendly' workers.

'They were lovely people and were just so willing and helpful and actually quite skilled aswell.

'They were just so friendly and you couldn't ask for better people to work for you. It really affects you to the core and has ripples right through the organisation.'

He had been in touch with the seasonal worker's liason officer who had briefed the Tongan Prime Minister in Auckland.

'We expect he may come down today. We are just looking to support everyone in any way we can and get bodies back to Tonga.'

HORROR HIGHWAY

The crash occurred on a section of highway with a high crash rate.

Dawson said there had been other crashes at the intersection where traffic coming from Katikati typically wasn't seen until it came across the bridge.

'It's in a hollow. I'm not even sure if that was the case as it appears the car drove straight in front of the truck.'

Dawson had spoken to the Transport Agency about the installation of a right hand turning lane into Dawson Rd.

'But that wouldn't have had any influence on that accident.'

He wanted to see a street light installed at the corner, to provide better lighting at the intersection, in line with other intersections along the road.

'I feel that may help. I don't think there were any things that would have helped in this regard unfortunately.'

HEAVY RESCUE EQUIPMENT NEEDED

Firefighters arrived to find several of the men trapped and had to call for extra equipment to reach them. The Fire Service sent an incident support crew with heavy rescue equipment, used in crashes involving trucks.

State Highway 2 was closed in both directions between Morton Rd and Thompson's Track. Police announced State Highway 2 reopened around 12.30am.

The Fire Service received multiple calls about the crash.

WITNESS: 'PRETTY LOUD BANG'

Kevin Ward was one of those who rang 111.

Ward lives in Dawson Rd and his partner worked at Aongatete, which sits on the corner of Dawsons Rd and SH2. Just after she got home he heard the sound of the collision.

'It was a pretty loud bang all right,' Ward said. 'It's a big tragedy.

'The truck's rammed straight into the driver's side of the car…. It looks like the car's bounced off the truck and gone up the bank.

'The car's quite badly squashed up.'

Ward said the logging truck was empty and didn't appear to have much damage.

'I went over to the car but no-one was moving in the car. I could see three people in the car.'

He phoned the emergency services as other workers came out to investigate the noise.

'Just after it happened all the workers were coming out of the packhouse. There's a lot of grief out on the road. It's a terrible thing.'

Three crews from Tauranga and two from Katikati made up the 20 firefighters sent to the scene.

The truck driver was not injured in the crash, police said.

State Highway 2 remained closed into the evening, and police said motorists driving to Tauranga from either Waikato, Auckland or Coromandel would not be able to travel via Waihi.

Motorists are advised to travel via the Kaimai Summit or Rotorua.

The serious crash unit and commercial vehicle investigation unit were investigating the scene, along with firefighters from Katikati and Tauranga and St John paramedics.

Greg Cottrell of Ambulance Dispatch said two rescue helicopters were preparing to take off when news of the fatalities came through.

'The Westpac Rescue Helicopter from Hamilton managed to take off but did not get far before being advised of the fatalities,' he said. 'The Tauranga Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter did not leave its platform.

The crash takes New Zealand's road toll up to 194, seven more than for this time last year.