Girl’s death a second tragedy for family
Just eight months before fatal crash, mother’s 21-year-old son died suddenly
The parents of a young Taranaki girl killed while cycling home from school had been rocked by another family tragedy just months before. Eight-year-old Emma Warren’s bike collided with a truck on Wednesday afternoon, moments after riding out the front gate of Inglewood Primary School.
Emma, described as a cheerful, “beautiful” young girl, died at the scene.
Just eight months before, in early January, S’ean and Karen Warren had been left devastated after Karen’s son, and S’ean’s stepson, 21-year-old Tyler Gilbert, died suddenly.
“When you lose someone, if it’s cancer or a car accident or heart attack, in a way I can kind of understand it because there’s something behind it,” Karen Warren told Fairfax in an interview in April.
“But with [this], to us, to those left behind, there is no reasoning that we can understand. It bloody sucks.”
Karen Warren told Fairfax the loss of Tyler had also her affected little sister Emma hard.
“It’s not like she can talk to her 7-year-old friends at school. That was her big brother who was meant to look after her and he said he would look after her.”
The tragedy spurred the couple, who married in March, to speak out about suicide, and S’ean was moved to set up a community fridge for Inglewood.
A fundraising effort was yesterday launched to help the family. Taranaki man Matthew Harrison set up the Givealittle page to help Emma's grieving parents.
More than $12,000 had been raised by 9.30 last night, following donations from over 300 people.
Yesterday morning, residents had left bouquets of flowers at the crash site, on the corner of Rata and Miro Sts.
A man who was at the scene posted a message to Emma’s family on Facebook.
“I’m devastated, in shock and struggling to cope, I was returning with my own girl of the same age from school, I can’t imagine what the parents are going thru (sic).”
He said his “heartfelt condolences” went out to Emma’s family.
“I don’t know what else to say other than I will be part of this little girl’s journey forever as she is now a part of mine,” he wrote.
Community board chairman Kevin Rowan understood there had been no major concerns around traf- fic safety in the area, and considered the tragedy a freak accident.
Rowan said such events were rare in the Taranaki town — and couldn’t recall anything like it happening.
Inglewood was a small, tight-knit community, he said, and families would be pulling together to offer to help.
The tragedy has drawn an outpouring of love and support from the school community. “Kia kaha to the family and all others involved, this little girl was always smiling, the happiest most beautiful wee girl, so tragic,” wrote one.
Taranaki Highway Patrol Sergeant Allan Trow said the family were also receiving support from police.
A police spokeswoman yesterday said it was too early to say how the crash happened and the serious crash unit was investigating.
Inglewood Primary School principal Karen Patterson confirmed the crash had happened while Emma was cycling home from the school.
“Our Inglewood Primary and wider school community extend our deepest sympathy to the family and close friends.”
The Ministry of Education’s traumatic incident team was supporting the staff, students and school community, Patterson said.
Trow said the truck involved in the crash was carrying stock food. He told Fairfax it appeared the truck had been turning out of Miro St and the girl had been riding along the footpath before the crash happened. Anyone who witnessed the crash is urged to call Inglewood police on (06) 756 0901.