Emergency services at the scene during a blessing a day after the crash. Photo / Paul Taylor
Emergency services at the scene during a blessing a day after the crash. Photo / Paul Taylor
The ramifications of a horror car crash that killed a young woman and injured others near Napier's central city continue to spiral out into the wider Hawke's Bay community.
Tributes are flowing online for Harmony Te Pou, 20, who died on Saturday night when a car carrying nine people flipped on Shakespeare Rd at about 11.50pm.
Te Pou was a passenger in the vehicle.
On Wednesday, Givealittle pages were being widely shared and contributed to for two other occupants in the car, who face lengthy recoveries from their injuries.
Police evidence markings at the scene. Photo / Paul Taylor.
Te Pou's partner, Elijah Watene, 19, and another car occupant, Autumn McGivern, aged in her 20s, were badly injured in the crash and remain in hospital in Wellington and Christchurch respectively.
"Their lives have changed dramatically", according to a Givealittle page set up for the pair.
A third injured person, a teenage girl, was in a stable condition in Hawke's Bay Hospital as of Wednesday.
Four others were discharged from hospital in the days following the crash.
Te Pou's old school, Dannevirke High School, paid tribute to its former student, sharing a funeral notice with "great sadness" on its Facebook page.
"Our sincere condolences go out to her whānau at this very sad time," the school posted.
A police officer at the scene over the weekend. Photo / Paul Taylor
A flood of other tributes have also been made on social media for Te Pou, who has been remembered as a "beautiful girl" with a big smile who was "adored by all her whānau and friends".
Her funeral will be held on Thursday.
Police tried to stop car prior to crash
Police have confirmed they attempted to pull over the car involved in Saturday's fatal incident shortly before it crashed.
However, police say no police pursuit was started after they signalled for the car to pull over less than a kilometre from the eventual crash site.
"Prior to the crash, the vehicle had been reported driving erratically, and failed to stop for police on Tennyson St when signalled to do so," a police spokesperson said.
"The vehicle fled, and police lost sight of it almost immediately after it turned into Hastings St.
"Police elected not to pursue the vehicle, turned off their red and blue lights and pulled over.
"The fleeing vehicle was discovered, crashed, a short time later on Shakespeare Rd."
Two police officers from the Serious Crash Unit were back at the scene of the fatal crash on Wednesday morning.
Police were also appealing this week for any witnesses to come forward who may have seen a vehicle "driving at speed" shortly before the crash, particularly between Hitchins Ave in Onekawa and the town centre of Napier.
