New Year’s Eve crash victim ‘a free spirit’

The twin sister of a woman killed on New Year’s Eve says she was ‘‘a free spirit’’ who planned to travel around the world.

Police confirmed 24-year-old Alanna Louise Thom, of Dunedin, was killed in a two-car crash on State Highway 1 near Waihola shortly after 1pm on Monday.

Ash Thom said her sister was a best friend to her and another sister, Haley.

Alanna Thom was a ‘‘happy and free’’ person who completed a yoga course in November and planned to travel to Nepal in 2019.

‘‘She planned on travelling all around the world,’’ her twin sister said.

Thom was interested in healing through nature.

‘‘[She] loved to pull out her crystal and tarot cards.’’

Thom was also a much loved ‘‘Aunty Na’’ to six nieces and nephews: Jack, Kyra, Rylan, Jade, Jesse, and Sophie.

‘‘She was amazing – caring, kind, always there,’’ her sister said.

She had been working at the Otago University Book Shop up until the crash.

Thom had been returning home from Wanaka, where she had been spending time with friends, when the crash happened.

Another person was flown to Dunedin Hospital with moderate leg injuries following the crash.

Thom’s death brought the road toll for 2018 to 382, passing the 378 who died in 2017.

It is the worst annual road toll since 2009, when 384 people were killed.