Kiwifruit company holding service to celebrate the lives of crash victims

Two men killed in a car crash in Te Puke will be remembered in a memorial service tomorrow.

Kiwifruit workers Hamsen Surai, 32, and Barry Tari, 24, both from Vanuatu, died in the crash on No 1 Rd on Sunday. The car left the road, becoming airborne before crashing into the garage about 1.30am.

The two men were seasonal workers at Trevelyan's Pack and Cool Ltd in Te Puke. The company paid tribute to the men on its Facebook page today.

"This Friday, we will be holding a special service to celebrate and remember Hamsen and Barry, and the contribution they made to so many," the post stated.

The memorial service will be held at the Orchard Church, 20 Macloughlin Drive, Te Puke at 12.30pm.

Trevelyan's is continuing to support everyone who has been impacted, "including our teams, workmates and families, both here and in Vanuatu".

"We know that just like us, many in our industry and the wider Te Puke community are grieving, and we would like to invite all those in our connected communities to attend the memorial service."

The company has also set up a Givealittle page in response to people from across the region asking how they could help support the men's families.

A 32-year-old man has been charged with one count of careless driving causing injury.