A four-year-old boy has survived a crash that killed his parents on the Kaimai Range last week, with whānau saying they are “blessed” he is still alive.
Piripi Chase, 31, and Josephine Wilson, 28 died in a crash between a car and a petrol tanker west of the Kaimai Summit on State Highway 29, between Tauranga and Hamilton.
Their son, Malcolm Manaia Wilson-Chase, survived the December 28 crash.
Emergency services said at the time one person initially died after the crash, another was flown to Waikato Hospital in critical condition and a child with moderate injuries was taken to Tauranga Hospital by ambulance.
Police later confirmed a second person died from their injuries.
The couple were among 19 people to have died on New Zealand roads over the official Christmas-New Year holiday road toll period, which ended on Wednesday morning.
Family was driving to birthday party
Piripi’s mother, Jessica Chase, told the Bay of Plenty Times the family was driving from Whakatāne to Hamilton for Jessica’s grandson’s first birthday when the crash happened.
Jessica said Malcolm Manaia – also known as Manaia or Mally – was in Whakatāne Hospital with a broken femur and still had to undergo surgery.
“He is very hurt and that will hurt him emotionally, mentally, physically and it’s going to hurt him for a long time, as it will hurt all of us. For two young lives to be taken so tragically.”
Jessica said Piripi and Josephine were farewelled on New Year’s Day and cremated at Hillcrest Cemetery in Whakatāne.
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