MANDY SMITH
EIT staff and students are in shock following the death of a popular lecturer.
Senior Information Technology lecturer Allister McLay died on Friday following a car crash north of Taupo on Thursday.
The EIT's dean of the faculty of business and computing, Ian Ritchie, said Mr McLay was a highly regarded
staff member. Mr McLay served as a member of the Academic Board and produced quality research. He was an excellent computing lecturer and had taught at the institute since November 2000, he said.
"Allister was a popular member of staff who had a brilliant professional future. He will be sadly missed." He is survived by wife, Rosie, and daughters Lily and Sophie.
Mr McLay and colleague John Nelson were travelling to the Association of Co-op Education Conference in Rotorua when, according to police, their car was in a collision with a stationary stock truck on State Highway 5, north of Taupo. Senior Sergeant Murray Hamilton of Taupo police said the truck had been making a delivery.
Two cars travelling immediately behind the truck had managed to pass it, one clipping its wing mirror in the process.
Mr McLay, 34, sustained serious head and chest injuries and was airlifted to Waikato Hospital.
He died of his injuries on Friday.
Mr Nelson, 62, was flown to Rotorua Hospital with head and chest injuries and has since been discharged.
Mr McLay's funeral will be held at St Columba's Church in Taradale on Thursday.
