‘Sparkling light’ killed in crash
A young woman described as a ‘‘bright, sparkling light’’ was killed in a two-car crash near Motueka on Saturday.
She was 22-year-old Zoe Bishop, of Motueka.
A man in his 20s in the other vehicle was seriously injured and flown to hospital by rescue helicopter.
The crash happened on the Coastal Highway, about five kilometres south of Motueka, at about 11.45am.
The high-speed impact of the crash on State Highway 60 caused the engine of Bishop’s car to be ripped out and strewn across the road.
Her car ended up on the edge of the water on the causeway near Moana Rd. She died at the scene. Friends have taken to Facebook to pay tribute to her with one saying ‘‘a bright sparkling light was taken from us’’.
‘‘One of my best friends, my flatmate and one of the brightest sparks in my life,’’ the friend said.
‘‘I will miss our wine and movie nights after work and of course the light that shone off of you and to the hearts of everyone near.
‘‘You will always be in our hearts.’’
Motueka deputy fire chief Mike Compton said the brigade helped with traffic control and the removal of the woman’s body.
‘‘It’s always very sad to go to calls like that and it’s not unusual for members to actually know the person or know the family,’’ he said.
‘‘For someone to lose their life so young is very saddening for us and for their families.’’
Compton said both of the vehicles were ‘‘severely’’ damaged as a result of the impact.
‘‘It was a pretty serious accident,’’ he said.
‘‘The engine of [Bishop’s] car was sitting on the road. It’s ripped the engine right out of the car.’’
The injured man from the other vehicle was discharged from Nelson Hospital yesterday.
The road was closed for close to five hours and diversions were in place while emergency services cleared the scene.
The police Serious Crash Unit is investigating.