Shirley O'Connor
8.45am: The elderly woman struck by a truck in Katikati on Monday has died overnight.
Police Sergeant Dan Rosser confirmed this morning that the woman had passed away overnight and her next of kin were aware.
Friends and family describe Shirley O'Connor, 88, as bubbly, with a "wicked" sense of humour.
EARLIER: A Katikati woman fighting for her life after her mobility scooter collided with a truck had difficulties adjusting to riding the scooter, a close friend says.
Friends and family describe Shirley O'Connor, 88, as bubbly, with a "wicked" sense of humour. She is in a critical condition in Tauranga Hospital after Monday's accident in which she hit the side of the truck and was flung underneath it on Katikati's main street.
Joyce and Graham Walker, of the Katikati Blind and Partially Sighted Support Group, of which Mrs O'Connor was a member, said they were saddened to hear of the crash but not surprised. Mrs Walker immediately thought of Mrs O'Connor when she read about the crash in the Bay of Plenty Times.
"Shirley's only had the mobility scooter for a few months after she stopped driving and I have seen her having some problems navigating it a couple of times before," she said.
Mrs O'Connor was popular member of the group because of her "bubbly, outgoing personality". She had twice been guest speaker at group meetings and regaled them with humorous tales of overseas trips.
"Shirley has a wicked sense of humour," Mr Walker said.
The truck driver told the Bay of Plenty Times Mrs O'Connor, who had been waiting to cross the road, accelerated unexpectedly.
Head of Western Bay police Senior Sergeant Ian Campion said the circumstances of the crash was were still being investigated but speed and alcohol had been discounted as factors.
Mrs O'Connor's niece Liz Sayers, who travelled to Tauranga from Kerikeri on Monday afternoon, has been keeping vigil at her aunt's hospital bedside.
"It's been a real shock and I haven't slept much much since ... My mind is like pudding at the moment," she said.
Her widowed aunt had a fractured hip and multiple other fractures and the prognosis was "not looking good".
Her aunt, who had lived in Katikati for about 20 years, was originally from Auckland, and had been married twice but had no children. She had three siblings in Auckland.
Mrs O'Connor had lived a "very full life" and was a member of many community organisations. She joined the Katikati Blind and Partially Sighted Support Group for social reasons. She had been driving until a few months ago.
"My aunt did have a few teething problems and found it difficult to adjust [to the mobility scooter] but maintaining her independence is very important to her," she said.
St Peter's Anglican Church pastor Brendan Gibbs, who is also Katikati Volunteer Fire Brigade station officer, said despite her injuries Mrs O'Connor was "quite talkative" and had been concerned about her glasses and hearing aid.
"Shirley had a serious leg injury and also took a fair knock to the head when she hit the road."
Crossing this stretch of road was "diabolical" because of the numbers of trucks using it as a thoroughfare.
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