The Singh family involved in last Thursday's horror van crash on SH5 have issued a "thank you" for the support they had received from the public and the Sikh community.
"For all their [public] messages, prayers and support," said family spokesman Baldev Raj, the brother-in-law of critically injured Jagtar Singh.
He also paid special thanks to all the emergency services, Hawke's Bay Hospital's Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit staff and Dr Ross Freebairn for what they had done for the family "during this very emotional and stressful time".
Mr Raj again asked the media for privacy so the extended family could focus on supporting family members, whose conditions were improving, in hospital.
He also asked that some initial media reports that the driver of the van, Sandeep Singh, had fallen asleep at the wheel be corrected as that was not the case.