Mother thought crash victim was in class

PALMERSTON NORTH: The distraught mother of a 12yearold girl who died during a police pursuit near Palmerston North thought her little girl was in class and is stunned by her tragic death.

Meadow James was in the front passenger seat when the car driven by 15yearold Ihaia Maxwell slid out of control and crashed into a power pole in Longburn on Monday.

Meadow died at the scene and Ihaia was taken to hospital with critical injuries and died shortly after.

A 15yearold girl who was in the back seat remains in hospital in a satisfactory condition.

Neither family blame police for the children’s deaths.

Meadow’s mother, Rachel James, told 1 News the first she knew her daughter had got into the car with Ihaia was when she returned home from work on Monday afternoon.

Fighting back tears, Ms James said she thought her daughter had gone to her course.

‘‘I play back what I could have changed. I could have done better, but it’s happened and I can’t do anything.

‘‘I’m still stunned myself. For me, it’s the second time round. ‘‘I’ve already lost a child.’’

Her son, Leif, died four years ago, also after fleeing police in northern Sydney, on October 31, 2013.

‘‘At the end of the day, it’s happened and there is nothing we can do to change it,’’ she said.

‘‘I don’t blame anyone. I don’t blame the family of the boy who was driving.

‘‘It’s just, you know, they never wanted for their son to die either. It’s just one of those things that has happened and now we have to accept it.’’

Ihaia’s grandparents, Dennis and Kat Maxwell, told 1 News about their much loved grandson who had a supportive family but who had chosen the wrong path.

‘‘Definitely full of life, had a lot of potential, as you know young kids do,’’ Mrs Maxwell said. ‘‘It’s just heartbreaking that he went down the road he did go down.

‘‘We know it’s been quite difficult for his parents, but you know, he had a pretty supportive whanau and you know, things just happen, and this is the end of the unfortunate events.’’

Mr Maxwell said he did not blame the police for the crash or pursuing the car.

‘‘That’s their job.’’ — NZME