Fatal Hawke’s Bay accident ‘cut through the heart of the community’ – Mayor



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The small community of Dannevirke is reeling after an accident yesterday that killed three young women who lived in the city.

Three young women die

The young women’s car collided with a truck in SH2.
Photo: RNZ / Tom Kitchin

The accident occurred on the main road in Central Hawke’s Bay while the women were on their way to work at Silver Fern Farms in Takapau.

His car crashed into a truck on State Highway 2.

The truck driver is now in a stable condition after being airlifted to Hawke’s Bay Hospital.

In today’s scene, vehicle parts such as lights, bumpers and glass remained. Flowers were placed on the roadside barriers.

Three young women die in fatal accident

Flowers have been placed near the crash site.
Photo: RNZ / Tom Kitchin

A woman, who did not want to give her name, lives nearby and witnessed the accident. He ran to the scene when he heard a bang.

When she arrived, she said that three small children ran towards her.

“The boy got down on his knees and wrapped himself, his arms around my legs and he just cried and cried and cried and called the family. He was – they were totally in shock.”

She was one of those who placed flowers at the crash site.

“We just went and picked some flowers and placed them in the area where the car had landed.

“Obviously, it was something my mother felt we could possibly do this morning and it’s pretty crude …”

All the young women who died were under the age of 20. They had all been to Dannevirke High School and one was still a student there.

Tararua District Mayor Tracey Collis, who lives in Dannevirke, said they were an important part of the local youth scene.

“[They were] well known in the community, many connections: sport, whānau, teachers, students. It really cuts through the heart of the community, especially when young people tragically lose their lives. “

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Tararua District Mayor Tracey Collis says it is tragic that young people were killed in the accident.
Photo: RNZ / Tom Kitchin

The Tararua Community Youth Service installed a memorial to the victims in its building in downtown Dannevirke.

Services manager Jeanne O’Brien said they had a space where young men could come together and remember young women.

“Young people can come and sit and sing, reflect, write some notes, keepsake notes and just have a good kai, just to be together. It is really important in these moments that the young people are not isolated and can sit, reflect and share. in good things too. “

Police were not available for an interview, but said the accident was under investigation.

Scene of the accident where three young women died

Photo: RNZ / Tom Kitchin

So far in 2020, 23 people have died on the roads of Hawke’s Bay, the highest death toll in the region in the past five years.

Nearly 300 people have died on roads across the country this year.

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