Parents, baby lost
Six killed in four weekend road incidents
Three members of the Northland family killed in a crash on their way home from a birthday party are being remembered by their grieving whānau, as police urge greater caution on the roads ahead of the festive season.
The plea follows six road deaths in four incidents at the weekend — including that of a Whangārei couple and their 6-month-old daughter after a party on a beach on Saturday.
Pari Edwards, known as Puddz, his partner Ngarimu Hape and their daughter Jah-zarna Hape were returning from O¯ ākura when their car collided head-on with a north-bound light truck towing a trailer.
The crash happened about 4.10pm on Saturday between Saleyards Rd and Richards Rd on State Highway 1 at Kauri Point.
The couple’s 6-year-old son, Pare Hare Hika Edwards, was in the vehicle in which his parents were travelling and received serious injuries. He has been admitted at Starship Hospital in Auckland.
Another daughter, Angel-Rose Hape, 5, was in a separate vehicle and unhurt.
Hape’s sister, Anahera Henare, told the Herald the couple’s extended whānau was trying to come to terms with the loss.
Henare had been admitted at Auckland City Hospital before the crash and said the couple were planning to visit her on their return from O¯ ā kura on Saturday.
“I spoke to them moments before the crash through video call just as they were leaving the beach. They said they’d return home then re-pack and come down to Auckland to see me.”
She said her sister and Edwards’ children meant everything to the couple. Half of Hape’s family was from Panguru and the other half from Whatuwhiwhi.
Hape had five brothers and five sisters while stay-home dad Edwards had 10 siblings.
Henare’s partner is Edwards’ older brother and she said that both of the families were close-knit.
Edwards’ sister, Trisha Raharuhi Pedersen, described her brother as a “big, friendly and cuddly-type” who loved all his nieces and nephews.
“He was well-loved and we’ll miss them dearly,” she said.
The whā nau was planning to leave Whangārei for Haititai Marangai Marae in Whatuwhiwhi today.
SH1 between Hikurangi and Kauri was closed following the crash, which took Northland’s road toll to 32 this year — just one fewer than last year’s total of 33.
The deaths were among six fatalities on the nation’s roads during the weekend.
Police are urging motorists to drive safely heading into the busy festive season.
But Assistant Commissioner of Police Road Policing Bruce O’Brien said safety messages on how to avoid crashes were not getting through to motorists.
Police could not comment specifically on the causes of the weekend’s crashes because they were under investigation, but O’Brien said generally the same factors resulted in deaths and trauma on the roads.
“Even when speed doesn’t cause a crash, it is the single biggest determinant in whether you and your passengers walk away or are carried away.”
He said alcohol and/or drugs were a factor in about a third of all fatal crashes.
If New Zealanders were going to enjoy a few drinks, they needed to make sure they had a plan to get home or find a sober driver to give them a lift.
“The most important message police want to convey is really simple: don’t risk your life and that of others by driving while impaired in any way,” O’Brien said.