[ad_1]
Supplied / Supplied
Eru Patuwai with her son, Arai.
Tragedy followed Eru Patuwai through his brief life, but the new father was beginning to return to normal when he died in a hit-and-run accident.
He was driving his Harley-Davidson through Weymouth in South Auckland when he was involved in a collision with a pickup truck at the corner of Weymouth Rd and Blanes Rd just after 7:30 pm on Friday, October 20.
Patuwai, 21, suffered serious injuries and was taken to Auckland hospital, where he was kept on life support for five days before his loved ones made the harrowing decision to shut down the machines last Friday.
Now his family is appealing to the humanity of the truck driver, who left the scene after the collision that killed Patuwai.
READ MORE:
* Labor Day: Police call for caution on the roads as the long weekend death toll rises to six
* No choice mistakes, just speed, says the top cop
* Fatal accident on the North Island highway
“There is a lot of pain here right now, a lot of anger,” said a family spokesman.
“We just want this person to do the right thing now.”
Patuwai had been through a lot in her life. In 2003, at age 4, she survived a house fire that killed her father, older sister Kihini, and younger brother Watene.
The three children had been left home alone and when their parents arrived, they found the house on fire.
Patuwai’s father ran to the house to save the children, but was killed in the fire.
His mother, Louana Patuwai, saw young Eru through the smoke and led him out of the house. The boy was left with burns on 20 percent of his body that required years of continuous treatment.
But he always managed to stay positive, the spokesperson said.
During her hospital stay, the only thing she spoke to the nurses was how she wanted to start a family of her own, they said.
Then, five weeks before her death, she welcomed her first child, her son Arai.
Troels Sommerville / Things
Flowers have been left at the intersection of Blanes Rd and Weymouth Rd, Weymouth, where the accident occurred.
Her family has also created a Givealittle page to help her partner and child and help pay for funeral expenses.
Detective Sgt. Albie Alexander said Manukau County Police were continuing to investigate the accident.
Investigators had located the truck and conducted a forensic examination.
Alexander said police were “following strong lines of investigation” regarding the identity of the driver.
“Our community has provided us with good assistance, however, I urge anyone with information to contact the police,” Alexander said.
Anyone with information can contact the Police at 105 and cite file number 201021/0933.
Information can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
