Dying sister: I'm sorry

As Louise Reichenbach (second from right) lay trapped, she sent her apologies to sister Tammy (left) for an argument they had had. Photo / Supplied

As Louise Reichenbach lay trapped and dying in a crashed car yesterday, she asked friends to tell her younger sister Tammy she was sorry for a fight they had had the previous day and that she "loved her very much".

Moments later, the 20-year-old from Foxton Beach died, despite the desperate attempts of friends to free her.

Miss Reichenbach was one of seven people crammed into a five-seat Ford Telstar that crashed just after 5am yesterday on Foxton Beach Rd, killing two and seriously hurting three.

It was one of two double-fatality crashes on North Island roads yesterday. A collision at Karapiro yesterday afternoon also killed two people.

The Herald understands Miss Reichenbach, a recently qualified occupational therapist, was sitting in the front footwell of the car, next to the front-seat passenger and the 19-year-old driver, when the crash happened.

Four others were crammed into the backseat and at least one, a 14-year-old boy who also died, was flung from the car when it rolled several times.

While police are still trying to determine exactly what happened, they say speed is believed to have been a factor and there may have been another car nearby at the time of the crash which is yet to be located.

The Herald understands that car, which was white, was driven by a local male known to the group in the Ford.

Detective Darcy Parke said this was the sort of horrific crash that NZ was experiencing far too often. "It is such a senseless waste of young lives and will have huge impact on so many families.

"The mere fact that there were seven people travelling at speed in a vehicle designed for five shows that there are still too many young people out there risking their own and others lives on our roads."

Foxton deputy fire chief Michael Clement said firefighters found the injured both in and out of the wreck.

While the car was up the right way, it was obvious it had rolled several times as the roof was smashed in and there was debris all over the road.

Mr Clement said three of the passengers had been "ejected from the car", including the dead boy, who was lying in the middle of the road.

Firefighters had to cut Miss Reichenbach from the front-seat area. She was lying on top of a male passenger, who had his seatbelt on.

St John Ambulance officers were not able to revive either of the dead, but took the other five to Palmerston North Hospital, two seriously hurt and three with moderate to serious injuries.

A male and female were later discharged, while the three others - including the driver - were flown to Wellington Hospital, and last night remained in intensive care.

Most of the occupants in the car, who were aged between 14 and 23, were from the Foxton and Shannon area and had attended Manawatu College.

Principal Bruce McIntyre said Miss Reichenbach was a former top student and staff were saddened by news of her death. "She was a very quiet, studious girl and very popular with staff."

The dead boy was a Year 11 student who had started at the school only three weeks ago. "I was impressed with him at his school enrolment meeting ... He was just someone who had a lot of potential and I thought, 'Oh this kid is going to do well here', but unfortunately it's not to be."

Last night, friends were grieving for the pair who died. Miss Reichenbach's friend Tia Kuiti, who was in the car and escaped with minor injuries, wrote on her Facebook page: "Im sorry Lou i did try ta get u out i was there with u til the end, love u forever."

It is understood Miss Kuiti also tried to revive the 14-year-old boy with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.