Rotorua crash victims: Siblings Amelia Stockdale Lamont, Ruben Stockdale-Frost mourned ahead of funeral

A brother and sister have been identified as two victims who died together in a horror smash in Rotorua that claimed four lives.

Mother-of-two Amelia Stockdale Lamont, 26, of Napier, was named by her widower and in a funeral notice as one of the victims of Monday evening’s crash.

“My children, our extended whānau and I are crushed to lose our precious love,” husband Josiah Lamont said.

“My girl is dancing among heaven’s flowers.”

Brother Ruben Stockdale-Frost, also of Napier, was also killed in the crash, the notice read. He was also in his 20s.

Amelia Stockdale Lamont, 26, died after a car crash on State Highway 5 in Whakarewarewa, Rotorua, on Monday evening. Photo / Supplied

Lamont described Stockdale-Frost as “one of the greatest young men I’ve ever known”.

The fourth victim has yet to be publicly identified.

A fundraiser to support Stockdale Lamont and Stockdale-Frost’s family has been set up by Stockdale Lamont’s long-time friend Stevie Hawkins.

Hawkins said the pair had “their whole lives ahead of them”.

“As a community of people who loved them dearly, we are with their whānau and loved ones during this unimaginably difficult time.”

Amelia Stockdale Lamont 'is dancing among heaven’s flowers', her widower Josiah Lamont says. Photo / Supplied

Hawkins said Stockdale Lamont was survived by her parents and her two young daughters, aged 3 and 2.

A funeral for Stockdale Lamont and Stockdale-Frost will be held at 10am on Saturday at Engage Church in Napier. The pair will lay at rest at Kohupatiki Marae on Friday night after earlier laying at individual private addresses.

Lamont said “circumstances have been emotional for all”, but said the overriding emotion was love.

Ruben Stockdale-Frost, of Napier, died after a car crash on Monday evening. Photo / Supplied

“Let’s together let the love of God fill our hearts [as] we reflect and grieve the loss of our precious family.”

“Let the love of our whānau cling to and comfort each other in our time of hurt and let both Millie and Ruben’s example of love carry us all into the arms of Jesus, [with whom] I’m confident they’re both resting,” Lamont said.

“My children, our extended whānau and I are crushed to lose our precious love, but I’m hopeful that Christ’s love will continue to surround us all of our days.

“Thank you all, for who you were to my girl and the lasting impact of love you have all shown to my family. Three things will last forever – faith, hope and love – and the greatest of these is love.”

Mary-Jane Heke, 50, was the first person to be publically identified as a victim, with her family remembering her as a beloved grandmother and “friend to many”.

A family member of Heke, meanwhile, wrote on social media on Tuesday night to announce her “sudden and tragic passing”, providing details surrounding her tangi.

Mary-Jane Heke, 50, was also killed in Monday evening's crash. Photo / Supplied

Heke, also known as Mere, leaves behind five children and a grandchild – and was set to celebrate her 51st birthday on December 29.

Others paid tribute to Heke, saying she was “such a beautiful soul” and that she was “gone but not forgotten”.

Another family member said “tears from my eyes keep on falling”.

Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.

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