Four East Cape family members die in two crashes one month apart

Just a month after the East Cape man, Lance Rangihuna, was killed in a car accident, three members of his family died at the same location in nearly identical circumstances.

It has left the tight-knit Te Araroa community of some 200 people where “everyone knows each other” in shock at what is described as an “unimaginable” tragedy.

Yesterday a woman and two children died

The next morning, his vehicle left State Highway 35 north of Te Araroa, collided with a tree and rolled.

The accident happened in exactly the same place as another just over a month ago, where Rangihuna died.

“We are absolutely devastated,” says community leader Ani Pahuru-Huriwai.

“It is a true tragedy, and when the news reached us who was involved … it was an even greater tragedy.”

Emergency services responded to yesterday’s accident, near Tokata Rd, just past the Karakatuwhero Bridge, around 5.45am.

The four-wheel drive Land Cruiser was on its roof on the side of the road when the first fire team arrived.

Te Araroa and Tikitiki firefighters responded, along with the police. St John Ambulance de Ruatoria was also called. St John officers pronounced the victims dead at the scene.

Pahuru-Huriwai confirmed that the victims were from the same whānau as the October 15 accident that occurred at the same location, but declined to comment further because police had not yet formally released their names.

October 15 Rangihuna

He died just before 7:30 am in a car accident.

Police were continuing their investigation into the cause of that accident and would not comment further, a spokeswoman said.

Te Araroa Fire Chief Dick Cook attended both crashes and knew the whānau personally.

“It was exactly the same place, the same tree,” he told the Herald.

It was “too early” to provide further details and he would not say anything about the whānau before the police revealed their names.

“We are in a small rural area, everyone knows everyone. It is very difficult, but the hardest part is having to turn around and start working.”

Pahuru-Huriwai said it had been a difficult period for the small community.

“Today I have been in contact with the wider whānau and everyone is devastated. What has happened is incomprehensible.

“The family will be deeply missed in our community. We have had many deaths this year.

“And any death is a tragedy, but when it comes to our children, close family members, it is very difficult to find the words to express the pain our community feels.

“I don’t think we’ve ever had a tangi like this in my life, three in the marae.”

Pahuru-Huriwai said they were also concerned for the welfare of the first responders.

“By the very nature of their jobs, everyone is connected to the people involved in this accident and the one before it.

“I would like to tell everyone to watch out for each other and be careful on the road.

“This is not the type of accident that happens every day, and for this to happen so soon after the last one is quite unimaginable.”

Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz said there was a bleak mood throughout the East Coast community after the latest tragedy.

“They had a death a while ago and then this one today, so everyone is suffering and sending support to the family involved.”

He said he was aware of the people involved but did not want to reveal identities or say if the two crashes were related until it was officially confirmed.

The Gisborne Police Serious Accident Unit is investigating.

A police spokeswoman said there were no updates and they were not yet ready to release the names of the victims.

New Zealand’s toll so far this year through November 15 is 274, up from 294 at the same time last year.

However, eight people had died in the Gisborne district on Sunday, up from just three at this time last year. Yesterday’s three deaths will bring this year’s tally to 11.