Family farewell hit-and-run victim

Friends and family of hit-andrun victim Jacob Pakura gathered to farewell him for the last time at a service in West Auckland yesterday.

The 16-year-old died after being hit by a car on Rua Rd, New Lynn, just before midnight on Saturday.

He would die a short time later in the early hours of Sunday.

Many of the mourners included young people — mainly high school students.

Some wore black while others wore colourful clothing and arrived arm in arm, comforting each other.

Jacob’s funeral took place a day after a 33-year-old West Auckland man appeared in the Waitakere District Court.

He has been arrested and charged with dangerous driving causing death, failing to stop and ascertain injury or death after a crash and dangerous driving.

A number of police officers attended the service yesterday.

Police announced they had made an arrest in relation to the case on Tuesday evening.

A statement said police had arrested a man thanks to information they had received from the public.

It came after a heartfelt plea from Jacob’s family, including his mother Esther and father Jason, for the driver responsible to help give them some closure by coming forward.

Jacob would have started his final year at high school in a few weeks, as a year 13 student at Avondale College.

It is understood representatives of the college were also at his funeral yesterday.

Meanwhile, members of the local community have set up a Givealittle page for the Pakura family.

The community group, Kiwis Unite, was first set up to help offer support to the 11-year-old boy who was abducted from a train station and sexually assaulted in Ranui late last year.

A member of Kiwis Unite said a number of women associated with their group had children who were good friends with Jacob and wanted to help his family in some way.

“One of the founding members of Kiwi Unite knew and loved Jacob as he was her son’s best friend,” the page reads.

“We want to rally Kiwis’ support again to raise funds for this whanau to ease the burden of funeral and subsequent expenses as they take time to grieve.”