A young man has been charged following a fatal crash in which a boat and trailer unit broke free from a car, colliding with an oncoming vehicle and killing a woman (File photo).
Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi
A young man has been charged with dangerous driving causing death following a fatal crash when a boat and trailer unit broke free from a car, colliding with an oncoming vehicle and killing a woman.
Nateisha-Kurstyn Pareteoro Hana-Wetere’s brother Te Huia Brown-Hana earlier told RNZ his sister was driving near Te Kūiti on her way back home to Auckland after a holiday in New Plymouth on 11 July when the crash occurred.
The 23-year-old’s car was struck by a boat and trailer unit that had detached from an oncoming black SUV.
Hana-Wetere died as a result of the crash. Her three-year-old son was also in the car, Brown-Hana said.
In a statement to RNZ, Police said a 19-year-old man had been summonsed to court. He was due to reappear in Te Kūiti District Court on 3 November, charged with dangerous driving causing death.
Four other people sustained injuries in the crash, one serious, one moderate, and two people with minor injuries.
As the matter was before the courts, Police were unable to comment further in relation to the matter.
Brown-Hana earlier said his sister was “larger than life”. She was caring, and had a “bubbly” personality.
“She was everything you could have wanted and more in terms of a sibling.
“She always accepted everyone for who they were. She didn’t pass judgement on no-one.”
Hana-Wetere’s partner was working in Australia, and she was planning to eventually join him.
Brown-Hana said his sister was in a great place in her life. She had recently moved to Auckland, with her brother helping her pick up furniture and other items for the home.
“She had everything going – she started planning out what she wanted in her life and how she wanted to get there and she was actually doing really well,” he said.
“Her child had anything and everything he could have needed – nothing came before him and nothing came after him. It was only him and him only.”
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.