HAMILTON - A 6-year-old West Auckland boy and his 3-year-old sister orphaned in a crash which killed their parents and baby brother are on the mend in Waikato Hospital.
The one who was admitted in a critical condition was reported early today to be stable, and the other, whose injuries were given as serious, was comfortable.
The police have not yet named them.
Their parents, John Vogel, aged 29, and Julia Maree Vogel, 27, and their 5-month-old brother Kade Vogel died instantly when the family car and a tour bus collided on State Highway 3 near Otorohanga on Sunday.
The Vogels had left their Henderson home to attend a family gathering in Taumarunui.
Relatives said the family were on the first day of an eight to 10-day holiday when the tragedy happened.
The police area manager for western Waikato, Inspector Kelvin Powell, said the accident happened about 2 pm when a car turning from Kio Kio Station Rd hit a bus, which spun and hit the couple's car.
Mr Powell said the family were travelling within the speed limit and were properly restrained in the car.
"They were innocent victims of a tragic accident."
He said investigations would continue and it was too early to say if anyone would be charged.
Crash analysts were investigating and he could not comment on the condition of the road.
A resident complained after the crash that it was a death trap without road markings or stop signs.
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