Seven people from same family killed in crash named
A year 11 student survived a crash that killed seven of his relatives, including his younger brother and his mother.
He was one of a family group that encompassed three generations, some of whom lived in Pukekohe, south of Auckland, and arrived in the South Island on Thursday morning.
The victims are Paul Brown and his wife Diseree Brown and their son Mark. Diseree’s sister, Divine Dolar also died in the crash along with her daughter Flordeliza Dolar.
Two other relatives survived the crash, but the partner of one died, along with their baby, Mika.
The group includes members of the Filipino community.
The family had driven to Dunedin to attend a funeral two hours’ drive west in Gore on Saturday, before embarking on their journey home later that day.
After spending several hours in Christchurch, they ventured further north in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Several hours later, just south of Picton, where they were due to catch a Cook Strait ferry back to the North Island, the van crossed the centreline and collided with a refrigerated goods truck on State Highway 1 between Blenheim and Picton about 7.30am on Sunday.
Seven of the nine people in the mangled wreck of the van died. Two of the passengers remain in hospital following the crash. One is in intensive care in a serious condition.
The truck driver suffered minor injuries.
Yesterday afternoon, Pukekohe High School principal Richard Barnett emailed parents to advise them that two of their students were involved in the crash.
‘‘One of our year 10 students died at the scene of the accident. His older brother, in year 11, remains in hospital. Our thoughts and condolences are with their family and close friends.
‘‘Students and staff who knew the two students well are being supported and cared for in school today. Additional counselling support has been made available, and the school is closely following advice from the Ministry’s Traumatic Incident team.’’
Barnett told Stuff the school was ‘‘deeply affected’’ by the crash. He declined to comment in detail about the students, but said they were a ‘‘beautiful family’’.
Yesterday, Paul Brown’s sister said she was struggling to come to grips with what had happened. She described her sibling as a ‘‘wonderful brother’’ who taught autistic children.
The woman said her brother, his wife, his sister-in-law, a 6-month-old baby and several teenagers were in the van.