Fiance’s text warning never read
Shanon Ayers was so concerned about the icy roads, he texted his fiancee, Charlotte Armstrong, urging her to drive safely.
When she didn’t get the message, he knew something was wrong.
The 28-year-old mother probably died minutes after the text was sent on Tuesday morning, when her Toyota Surf skidded on black ice and into an oncoming bus on McQueens Bridge in Gebbies Valley, south of Christchurch.
Police believe she died instantly.
Ayers, 34, said he left their home in Little River, just before Armstrong. He took their twoyear-old daughter Mealla to her pre-school in Halswell before heading to his work at a car yard in Sockburn, while Armstrong drove separately to her new job at Princess Margaret Hospital.
Ayers estimated Armstrong was about two minutes behind him. He texted her the warning from Tai Tapu after sliding on an icy patch of road himself.
By the time he got to the preschool the text had not been delivered. Armstrong should have reached an area with cellphone reception by then and received it.
By 8.05am she had not arrived at work. He decided to head back to look for her. ‘‘I came around the corner where I could see the cop cars, ambulance, Westpac rescue helicopter and my stomach was turned inside out and I felt all emotional and I didn’t know why.’’
He looked at the mangled car in the ditch but didn’t recognise it as Armstrong’s Toyota Surf. A police officer told him it was not her car.
He went home. Soon, the police officer from the crash scene approached him in the driveway. ‘‘I was saying ‘I know why you’re here, I know why you’re here.’’
Ayers has not been able to tell Mealla about what happened to her mother. ‘‘I’m dreading her asking when is Mum coming home. She’s asked a few times where she is and we’ve just told her Mum’s not home. I’m leaving it to her to ask that question.’’
Ayers met Armstrong soon after her 21st birthday, nearly nine years ago. She gave him ‘‘everything’’, he said.
‘‘I was never out of control but I was a 24, 25-year-old living an 18-year-old life, so she brought me back to reality and stability.’’
Two weeks before Armstrong’s death the couple achieved their dream of owning a rural property.
Ayers said he had wanted a place where Armstrong, a passionate horse lover, could wake up, walk outside and see her three horses.
‘‘She was a very strong-minded person, she knew what she wanted as well as being extremely kind and generous and would do anything for anyone – especially her close friends.’’
A funeral service for Armstrong will be held on Monday.
I could see the cop cars, ambulance, Westpac rescue helicopter and my stomach was turned inside out. Shanon Ayers fiance of Charlotte Armstrong