Woman walking alone before she was hit by vehicle
The son of an Australian woman found dead on a dark Southland road says it is hard knowing he will not hear her voice again.
Tamara Maree Schmidt, 37, from Brisbane, was on holiday with her partner, Richard.
She was seen walking alone along State Highway 1 before she was hit by a car in Southland about 12.50am Monday.
Police said Schmidt was lying down at the time of the incident near the turn off to Omaui Rd and may have already been dead.
Her death was being treated as ‘‘unexplained’’.
Schmidt’s son, Jak Bane, said he was still searching for answers about what had happened, but did not believe there was anything suspicious about his mother’s death.
‘‘I still haven’t been completely informed about it all,’’ he said on Thursday.
Since his mother’s death, Bane received a new tattoo on his forearm that read ‘‘Tamara 17.11.7726.10.2015’’.
‘‘We all loved her so much. She was a caring, happy person with so much love to give. I didn’t want to believe it. It’s hard to think that you’ll never get to hear the voice of the mother that bought you into this ever again. I hope she’s watching down on us with a smile on her face.’’
Bane described his mother as a ‘‘great barista’’ and ‘‘amazing cook’’. ‘‘Every birthday cake was unique. She’d stay up all night to make a cake. She loved us all so much.’’
On Thursday, Detective Sergeant Mark McCloy said motorists reported seeing Schmidt walking alone along State Highway 1 before she was hit by the car.
He was unable to say how she came to be there. ‘‘That’s all part of our inquiries,’’ McCloy said.
Police were still trying to establish whether Schmidt was dead before she was hit by the car.
McCloy said her partner was cooperating with police and remained in Invercargill.
About 15 staff continued to work on the investigation, which was not a homicide probe, he said.
‘‘I’m treating [Schmidt’s death] at this stage as unexplained, and until I have an explanation as to what happened . . . our inquiries will continue.’’
Police have called for any sightings of a Britz campervan, in the area where Schmidt’s body was found, after 9pm on Sunday. It was believed Schmidt, who was wearing a blue jacket and pink shoes when she died, was travelling in the van.
McCloy said police had completed their scene investigation and forensic examinations of several vehicles. An autopsy had been completed, but he would not comment on the findings.