Tributes paid to students killed in crash
Tributes have been paid to two international students who were killed in a head-on crash in Taranaki on Sunday night.
One was 23-year-old Indian man Yatharth Vats, who had been studying at the Pacific International Hotel Management School (PIHMS), Bell Block.
The other was Shamuel BK, who was part of an influx of Nepalese students to enrol at the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (Witt) in February, aiming to complete a Diploma in Professional Cookery before returning home to his wife.
The crash occurred between Waitara and New Plymouth about 10pm and is being investigated by the Serious Crash Unit. The two deaths bring the number of fatalities on Taranaki roads this year to 16.
BK’s family has been informed and it is hoped his body will be returned to Nepal by the end of next week. Witt also plans to hold a memorial service.
Tutor Mike Sutherland said BK was very much liked by his peers and tutors.
The young student was busy outside of Witt, working part-
time as a cleaner for New Plymouth orthodontist Julian Haszard.
He described BK as an absolutely wonderful guy who he and his family had embraced. ‘‘We miss him terribly. We had built up a really good friendship.’’
All international students at Witt were updated with news of the tragedy on Wednesday and offered support.
Shamuel’s sister, who is studying in Auckland, has been in New Plymouth this week.
Vats was described by his course co-ordinator as a ‘‘good student and a quiet young man who got on with his work’’.
It can be revealed that Vats had been due to appear in the New Plymouth District Court on Wednesday charged with drinkdriving.
The 23-year-old, who had been living in Waitara, was stopped by police on New Plymouth’s Devon St East about 10pm on September
27. A breath test showed he had a reading of 600 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit for drivers aged over
20 is 250mcg.
The charge has been administratively withdrawn since his death.