Heartbroken parents speak out after tragedy
Bailey Patmore was a good boy who made a terrible mistake.
The heartbroken parents of the Porirua 15-year-old have spoken about the death of their son, who was in the boot of a stolen hatchback that crashed near Tawa in the early hours of Saturday, May 19 following a police chase.
Bailey’s father Vincent Patmore said his son was a good-hearted boy who loved fashion and his family, especially his brother, and always helped around the house.
‘‘Everyone is looking at him as just another teenager that died in a stolen car but he was more than that. He made a terrible mistake, that’s all.’’
Bailey was one of six people, most under the age of 17, in the hatchback that crashed. The others received minor injuries.
Patmore claims the driver of the fleeing car was just 14-years-old, and that the occupants had been drinking. Police had no comment to make when this was put to them.
Patmore said he was struggling to understand why police pursued the car when it was full of young people and the road conditions were bad.
‘‘They must have seen him in the back of the hatchback. When do they pull the pin?’’
Wellington District Commander Superintendent Sam Hoyle said shortly before 3am on Saturday, a dog handler driving north on State Highway 1, saw the small hatchback travelling at high speed near the Terrace Tunnel in the city.
The officer followed the vehicle and established it had been reported stolen from Petone the night before.
A pursuit began when the driver failed to stop. The vehicle continued north on SH1 before crashing south of the Tawa off-ramp.
Patmore said teenagers, especially boys, often weren’t equipped with common sense but that didn’t make them criminals.
‘‘I know my son made a silly choice and it cost him his life and cost me my son’s life. I just want people to know he didn’t go out that night, or any night to steal cars, he just went out with his mates.’’
Bailey lived in the Porirua suburb of Cannons Creek, which was a tough place for a young man, Patmore said.
‘‘It’s hard growing up in a neighbourhood like this where all the teens are up to mischief and they’re your only choice of friends.’’
His son was close to his older brother, who he looked up to, and loved his younger siblings. He was good at helping around the house.
‘‘He was a really good kid, he had a big heart, he had time for everyone. We’re just so sad.’’
Bailey’s mother Kelly McKnight said he was dearly loved and had touched many people’s lives in his short life.
‘‘It has been a huge shock to Bailey’s wha¯nau at this sudden and tragic loss. Bailey was fun-loving, caring, lovable and cheeky.’’
The wha¯nau have gathered in support and sadness to help ease the burden of such a huge loss, she said.
A Serious Crash Unit investigation and an internal police investigation were underway.
The Independent Police Complaints Authority confirmed it had been notified and was in the process of gathering information before deciding whether to investigate.
A spokesman said it would usually investigate a police pursuit that ended in a death.