Faces of the road toll

Horror five-day spell claims 14 lives, including Kiwis and tourists

They came from a raft of backgrounds, countries and professions. One was a mother, on her way to set up her weekly stall at the local market. Another had spent time in prison. One was a “legend” teacher. Another was a grandmother, a “selfless” woman who gave much time to her community.

Four were German tourists — two of whom were midway through an adventure around the world.

All of them were among the 14 people who died on New Zealand roads between Friday and Tuesday.

The year’s road toll as of yesterday stood at 83 — 11 more than this time last year, and six more than 2016.

Friday — 11.59am, Tauranga

Tauranga woman Barbara Joy Rowe was struck by a car on Devonport Rd near First Ave on Friday around lunchtime.

She was crossing the road to collect her car from the AA Service Centre at the time.

Rowe was rushed to hospital but died on Saturday.

The 76-year-old juggled many voluntary positions in the Tauranga community, stepson Peter Rowe told NZME.

“Barbara was selfless to the core and we will all miss her so much.”

Friday — 11.40pm, Hikurangi

Blake Edward Hilton, 20, of Hikurangi, died after a crash on Mountain View Rd in Northland on Friday about 11.40pm.

Saturday — 6.40am, Whakapapa

German nationals Rebekka Maria Isenmann, 31, and Simon Daniel Schweizer, 35, died after their van and a truck collided at the intersection of State Highway 47 and SH48 in the central North Island at 6.40am on Saturday.

Saturday — 2.20pm, Kaeo,

German tourists Marlena Picht, 24, and Marc Damboldt, 30, both from Bad Sacha in central Germany, died on Saturday when the people mover they were in collided head-on with an oncoming truck just north of Kaeo in Northland.

The impact was enough to tear into two pieces the van they had modified so they could camp in it.

Sergeant Haydn Korach, of Mid North police, said it appeared the people-mover had been heading south when it crossed the centreline.

The driver of the northbound truck had tried to avoid a collision, police said.

The German couple had to be cut from the van but died at the scene. The truck driver also had to be freed by firefighters and was in a serious condition.

Sergeant Dylan Robinson said police had worked with the German consulate to inform the couple’s families about the tragedy.

Police were continuing to gather information that would be handed over to the coroner.

Picht had documented their travels on a blog called Adventure In My Backpack.

The pair were about five months into a trip around the world and had arrived in “beautiful New Zealand” in November.

Saturday — 11.30pm, Ruakaka

A woman died in Auckland City Hospital on Monday, after a singlevehicle crash on Peter Snell Rd at Ruakaka in Northland, about 11.30pm on Saturday.

Her name has not yet been released by police.

Two other people were injured in the accident.

Sunday — 5.40am, Nelson

Phillip Stretch, 33, and Johnathan Tairakena, 25, crashed and died dur- ing a police pursuit in Nelson on Sunday, also killing innocent motorist and mother, 53-year-old Carmen Marie Yanko.

The crash occurred on State Highway 6 near Clover Rd in Hope, south of Nelson.

Yanko was on her way to Monty’s