Partner of crash victim in a coma

A Levin woman killed in a car crash is remembered as a caring person with a big heart.

Wendy Kauwhata, 54, died in a crash on State Highway 1 in O¯ hau, south of Levin, just before 5pm on Tuesday.

Her partner, Colin Kauwhata, was injured in the crash and is in Wellington Hospital in an induced coma. Their son Tepihi Kauwhata said he was unsure if his dad knew his mum was dead.

‘‘She died at the scene and we heard he was conscious for a bit . . . so we are not sure where he is at.’’

Colin Kauwhata suffered broken ribs, a broken sternum and back and has brain swelling.

A 15-year-old boy who was also in the car was a foster child to the Kauwhata family and Tepihi Kauwhata said he was like a little brother to him. The boy has had surgery for two broken femurs and had moved into a hospital ward.

Tepihi Kauwhata said his family had been at his Levin house on Tuesday. A short time after they left, he saw on social media there had been a crash.

‘‘[Then] someone messaged me and said three people were involved and two dogs were in the car and I knew it was them.’’

He tried to get to the scene, but could not reach it due to traffic diversions, so went home, where he was called by the police.

Wendy Kauwhata had worked as a social worker in Levin and with Child Youth and Family, through which she fostered children, her son said.

‘‘She had a big heart. She would do a lot for a lot of people if she had the means to do it. She is caring with all the kids and stuff going through [the house].

‘‘All the kids she has taken into her care speaks for itself.’’

Tepihi Kauwhata said he was ‘‘barely coping’’ and the family were all ‘‘cut up’’, but they were all trying to chip in and delegate jobs and get stuff done.

The two rottweilers in the car at the time of the crash were on the road to recovery and Tepihi Kauwhata said they were part of the family as well.

Both dogs had been rushed to the vets, with Keha suffering a severe leg break that requires surgery and Sassy under observation.

Tepihi Kauwhata said initially Keha’s leg looked like it would have to be amputated, but after gaining donations through Givealittle, they were able to keep her leg and pay for surgery, where she could get a plate inserted.

Funeral arrangements were under way, but Tepihi Kauwhata said the family were waiting for an update on where his dad was at before final decisions could be made.

However, he said, his mother would be farewelled in Levin and then buried in Waitara.