Rugby star's grandmother crash victim

Sean Maitland. Photo / Ben Fraser

A 75-year-old great-grandmother with a "young heart" was killed when her car crossed the centre line near Tokoroa and crashed head-on with a truck on her way home from a badminton tournament.

Maria Maitland.

Maria (June) Maitland, grandmother of New Zealand-born Scotland rugby player Sean Maitland, died on Saturday about 1.50pm on State Highway 1 at Litchfield, returning from a week-long tournament in Hamilton.

Mrs Maitland's son, John, said the news was a shock to her three children, five grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

His son Sean, who lived in Glasgow, was devastated by "losing his Nan", but was unable to come home for the funeral as he had just entered a Scotland training camp.

"She had a young heart, she was always very non-judgmental and had a great sense of humour. She was 75 years old but she had a young outlook on life. The friends of my kids all came into her company and loved her," Mr Maitland said. "If ever we had a family 'do' on in town - and we had a 21st of my youngest daughter this year - a lot of my daughter's friends stayed at my mum's house for the weekend."

She was called "Nana June" by all the young people who met her.

Playing bridge was a major hobby, alongside badminton, tennis, line-dancing and bowls.

Originally from Scotland, Mrs Maitland moved to Tokoroa from Glasgow in 1963 with her husband.

Mr Maitland said the family still did not know what caused Mrs Maitland to cross the centre line. A stroke and heart attack had been ruled out by the coroner.

Bay of Plenty district road policing manager Kevin Taylor said police were still investigating but initial investigations showed Mrs Maitland's car had crossed into the path of oncoming traffic. The truck driver was uninjured.

Mrs Maitland will be farewelled today at St Pius X Catholic Church in Tokoroa.