The children of David Poutawa and Margaret Luke, five of who died in a crash on State Highway 1, Atiamuri. Photo / Facebook
The sole survivor of Sunday's highway tragedy northwest of Taupo has been discharged from hospital in time to join the tangihanga for his parents and five siblings at a Hawke's Bay marae.
David Poutawa, 9, was discharged from Hawke's Bay Hospital in Hastings yesterday, Hawke's Bay District Health Board media
staff said.
His discharge came a few hours ahead of the overnight return of the remains of his parents David Poutawa, 42, and Margaret Luke, 35, which arrived early this morning at Timikara Marae, Moteo, along with those of his siblings Trinity, 13, Chanley, 11, Jahnero, 10, Akacia, 8, and Khuys, 7.
All the children had been pupils at Puketapu School, near Moteo, before their recent move to the Waikato town of Tokoroa, along with eldest brother Legacy, 12, who was at home with his grandmother at the time of the head-on crash.
It happened on State Highway 1 between Wairakei and Atiamuri about 10.30am on Sunday, and also killed the driver of the sole oncoming vehicle, Jenny Rogers, 51, of Lower Hutt.
