Tragedy stuns family

ROGER MORONEY
The family and friends of 18-year-old Johnathan Pryor, who died in a high-speed crash in Havelock North last Friday night, are shocked and stunned at losing a young man who loved life and who was happily planning an adventurous "OE".
Instead, tributes are mounting at the spot where the former Karamu High School student died. Like the facts surrounding the crash, they are hauntingly familiar to Hastings teenagers who farewelled four mates weeks earlier, only 2km away.
Police, firefighters and paramedics have also been left stunned at the senseless crash - a high-speed tragedy that again ended when the car collided with a tree.
Senior Sergeant Mike O'Leary of Hastings police today shook his head and described the latest crash as "traumatic" for all involved, especially those who had to break the news to loved ones.
Initial scene examinations and witness accounts made it clear that speed in the 100km/h St Georges Road North location was a major contributing factor to the crash. "Youth have got to wake up to the fact that these things happen to them," Mr O'Leary said.
"It's pretty simple ... speed kills. Take the foot off the pedal and think of your family and your own life," was his succinct advice.
Mr Pryor, the sole occupant, died instantly after his Honda Integra car left the road on a gentle S-bend, struck a culvert, became airborne and slammed into a tree. Emergency services got the call at 11.27pm and came on a scene of destruction, the car crumpled and flattened, having struck the tree hood-first. The impact snapped the large tree at the base.
His family were too upset to talk about their loss. One of Mr Pryor's closest friends, today struggling to come to grips with what had happened, said he had planned to go in the car moments before the crash. He lamented that Mr Pryor had also nearly gone with him in his car instead, but changed his mind.
"He finished work and we met up in town (Hastings) with some other mates."
Initially Mr Pryor had not wanted to go out, but then decided he would for a short time, taking his own car. "We all met up later but he didn't turn up."
After driving around, the friends met up at someone's house where they heard there had been a bad crash. When they heard a short time later it was a black Integra they realised it was almost certainly Mr Pryor.
His best friend, who did not want to be named, got the news about 12.30am.
"He loved his cars. He loved going out. He was a funny guy ... a real crack-up."
Mr Pryor's well-known chanting call among his mates was "Wiggy Wiggy Wiggy!"
At the scene of the crash today, emblazoned in hot pink spray paint on the road, were the words "Miss you Wiggy, Luv from The Boys".
Another tribute declared "Life should be cherished like a rare pearl ... cos it is one crazy world 2 have one's boy die so young."
While friends gathered, a single white dove sat in the damaged branches of the tree.
Mr Pryor had just completed his qualifications to be a cook, and had worked at Breakers restaurant in Hastings for nearly a year. Staff there were shocked and upset.
"He was just a neat young guy," a colleague said.
Mr Pryor loved cars, and his best mate said he was comfortable behind the wheel. He also liked summer, the beach and rivers.
"He loved just hanging out ... and he was always doing crazy stuff ... on swings and stuff."
Mr Pryor's friends were in shock. They were very aware of what had happened five weeks ago when the four Karamu High School boys died.
"Everyone's got cars ... this has bought a bit of a halt to it," his friend said, adding he had even considered getting rid of his own.