Brothers in car tragedy

Two teenage brothers are dead and a young girl is in hospital following a rural Taupo car crash.

Thor Tamanui Sullivan, 16, and brother Hape Raroa Sullivan, 18, and a 14-year-old girl were in the out-of-control car that smashed into a tree.

Bay of Plenty road policing manager Inspector Brent Crowe called the crash, which happened on the rural Tirohanga Rd near Taupo late on Friday night, an ‘‘absolutely avoidable tragedy’’.

‘‘While the full circumstances of last night’s crash are yet to be determined I can say that all too often police are attending serious crashes that are avoidable,’’ Crowe said.

The girl remains in a moderate to serious condition in Rotorua Hospital.

A squadron leader from the Defence Force’s Cadet Corps paid tribute to Thor on Facebook yesterday afternoon, saying the teenager had approached him six months ago to join No 34 (South Waikato District) Squadron. .

‘‘I was so proud to welcome him into my unit as he talked about wanting a career in the Army’’.

He described Thor as a ‘‘fine young gentleman’’.

‘‘Officers and cadets from No34 Sqn and New Zealand Cadet Forces would like to extend our most sincere condolences to the Sullivan family.’’

A funeral service is expected to be held on Tuesday.