Tree serves as memorial for teens killed in crash
A charred tree on a Christchurch roadside has become a memorial to three teenage boys killed when their car crashed and exploded as they fled from police.
The messages have been written or etched into the spot where the force of the crash tore off the tree’s bark.
They read ‘‘RIP’’; ‘‘Forever 13 & 16’’; ‘‘gonna miss you’’; ‘‘my beautiful bro’’.
Bricks around the tree have become miniature headstones. Flowers, cans of bourbon and a heart-shaped balloon mark the spot.
Yesterday, more mourners went to the scene on Blenheim Rd where, on Sunday night, the boys died. The stolen car hit road spikes, lost control, crashed into the tree, rupturing the fuel tank, and exploded in what police described as a ‘‘ball of fire’’.
The boys were 16-year-old Glen Mcallister, who was believed to be driving the car, and 13-year-olds Craig Mcallister and Brooklyn Taylor.
It is understood the three boys had regularly stolen cars throughout the city in recent months. The car involved in the crash was first seen speeding in central Christchurch at 11.13pm on Sunday, reaching speeds in excess of 130kmh and running red lights on Moorhouse Ave. It had been stolen in Wigram earlier that night.
Police are appealing for witnesses of both the pursuit on Moorhouse Ave, which lasted about a minute, and of the crash minutes later. Two officers who laid the spikes suffered smoke inhalation trying to save the boys from the burning car, but the heat was too intense.
Detective Sergeant Brad Grainger said yesterday police wanted to hear from anyone who saw the white Mazda Familia before the crash or who witnessed the crash. It is understood the car was stolen from a property in Wigram on Sunday night.
Glen and Craig’s mother, Juanita Rose, told Stuff on Monday she was in ‘‘severe shock’’ after losing her ‘‘babies, my life’’.
Their sister posted a tribute to her ‘‘handsome Facebook.
‘‘Losing one of you is hard enough, but both of you going has destroyed me. Thirteen and 16 is way too young to be gone.
‘‘Can’t believe I’ll never get to see you grow into the men you were supposed to be. I love you both endlessly,’’ she wrote.
Brooklyn’s older sister, TeAri Taylor, said her younger brother’s life began to unravel when their father died nine years ago.
He was in the care of Oranga Tamariki at the time of his death.
‘‘He was a broken child.They were attached at the hip, Dad was his best mate.’’