Mum’s last goodbye to Lara
Moments before teenager Lara Glover died, her mother arrived at the crash scene just in time to say ‘‘goodbye’’.
Blenheim woman Jayne Glover said she was thankful for that one final moment with Lara, who she described as ‘‘bubbly and outgoing’’.
And the reason she was able to have that moment; a phone call from a family friend who happened to be at the scene when the SUV carrying Lara and seven other teenagers rolled on State Highway 1. It meant Glover was by her only daughter’s side shortly after emergency services arrived.
‘‘I did have that moment, and I will cherish it always,’’ Glover said.
The 16-year-old and her friends were on their way to Picton for a swim when they crashed near Spring Creek, about 8 kilometres north of Blenheim, on Sunday.
The fallout after the accident was felt on social media and it was upsetting to see people point fingers, Glover said.
Lara was the youngest of seven children in the Glover family, with six brothers.
Her mum said they shared a special bond.
‘‘We had a great rapport. She was very bubbly and outgoing. She made people laugh,’’ she said.
‘‘Now it’s all about looking to the future, Lara would have wanted that.
‘‘From all of our family, our heartfelt thoughts are with the kids who are still in hospital.’’
A funeral service would be held for Lara at the Mayfield Chapel, in Blenheim, tomorrow.
Lara’s friend Jordan Bosch, 17, has been in an induced coma at Wellington Hospital since the crash.
Jade Bosch said his son suffered a punctured lung, ruptured spleen and a lower spine fracture and was not responding to verbal commands.
‘‘We don’t know if he’ll ever be the same again. It’s such an early stage that we’re clueless to know what to expect,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s been hard going. He’s fighting and nowhere near out of the woods.
‘‘It’s the flick of an eye or twitch of a finger that you’re waiting for.’’
Bosch had been at his son’s bedside in Wellington.
The days since the accident had been a rollercoaster of emotion and it was unclear when he could bring his son home to Marlborough, he said.
‘‘This is just the start for us, the worst isn’t over,’’ he said.
The Marlborough community had been incredibly supportive throughout the ordeal, Bosch said.
Another friend was transferred to Christchurch Hospital after the crash and was in a stable condition.
A Wairau Hospital spokeswoman said another teenager remained in a stable condition in Blenheim while the other four passengers had been treated and discharged.
A police spokeswoman said officers were still making inquiries into the crash and no charges had been laid. NZ