Victim's gifts lie unopened beneath her parents' tree

Photo / Thinkstock.

The Christmas gifts from Gayle Anderson's parents remain unwrapped as her family mourn the loss of the mother of two in a Christmas Eve car crash.

Ms Anderson, 44, was killed when her vehicle crashed into a power pole in Bush Rd, about 15km from Dunedin, at 9.30pm.

Her death was the first on the roads this holiday season. The toll stood at two last night.

Vineshwar Singh, 40, was hit by a car in Pukekohe about 11.45pm on Christmas Eve and died soon after.

Detective Sergeant Brett Roberts, of Dunedin, said Ms Anderson might have been "racing or chasing" a 2001 Subaru Impreza.

Police said she might have known the Subaru driver and the pursuit might not have necessarily been at high speed.

Ms Anderson's parents, Lorraine, 68, and Bruce, 73, were woken by police at 1.10am on Christmas Day.

"No parent ever expects to lose their child," Mrs Anderson told the Herald yesterday.

She said Gayle, her former partner and their children Samme, 20, and Harry, 18, were supposed to visit for breakfast on Christmas morning before moving on to the home of Gayle's brother for lunch.

"Then Bruce and I were going to go back to Gayle's for Christmas tea."

Instead, the family spent the day in shock and supporting one another. Mrs Anderson said Gayle's children were coping but "they have their moments, like we all are having, really".

"We opened our presents from her, but the presents we wrapped for her are still wrapped up," said Mrs Anderson. "The ones from my husband and I to Gayle - he doesn't want them ever unwrapped.

"But I said in later months you might want to give them to the kids."

Mrs Anderson last saw her daughter when Gayle was visiting her brother, who manages a video store in Mosgiel. "I showed her what I got her Dad for Christmas and then she was off down the road to finish her Christmas shopping."

Police said the male driver of the Subaru had come forward and was being spoken to by officers.

Meanwhile, Counties Manukau police are searching for the driver of the car that struck Mr Singh.

The father of two died about 30 minutes after being hit in Helvetia Rd.

Police have no description of the car but believe it stopped a short distance away. They said it was possible the driver was unaware someone had been hit.

Mr Singh had been drinking at a family member's house and was due to fly to Australia for Christmas.

Yesterday evening, a man was taken to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition after the car he was driving left State Highway 1B, north of Gordonton, about 5.50pm.

The road was closed for about 90 minutes while crash investigators examined the scene.

- additional reporting: Otago Daily Times