Family hope teenagers learn from death in packed car

The family of a youth killed when the car in which he was packed with eight other teenagers crashed want other teenagers to learn from his death.

Tammee Smith said her brother, Nicholas Smith, would have turned 18 next month, but is instead lying in a coffin.

Her brother, a front-seat passenger, was killed early on Saturday when the car hit a power pole while being followed by police through Hamilton. Power was cut to 600 homes.

The driver of the car was remanded on bail to November 27 when he appeared in Hamilton District Court yesterday.

Karl Joshua Tairi, 18, faces charges of manslaughter, dangerous driving, reckless driving, failing to stop after an accident and failing to stop for police.

His bail conditions include a night curfew, no association with police witnesses, and a ban on attending the funeral for Nicholas Smith.

Interim name suppression was denied because the case had attracted public interest and because Tairi had had sufficient time to tell family members of his arrest.





The nine teenagers had been at a party at a hall in suburban Hillcrest.

Tammee Smith wants teenagers to learn from what happened to her brother.

"Call your parents. Get out and walk.

"Call a taxi, it doesn't matter how much it costs," she said.

Mr Smith's girlfriend had been sitting on his knee, crammed into the Holden, which had modified suspension and a bald right rear tyre. His parents believed he might have saved her life.

Waikato police said the car was travelling at up to 100km/h in a 50km/h zone.

Police officers pulled back seconds before the crash. The Police Complaints Authority is investigating the incident.

Mr Smith died of internal injuries. His 16-year-old girlfriend is in Waikato Hospital's intensive care unit with a broken pelvis, legs and arms.

Police said no one in the car was wearing a seatbelt.



Mr Smith's father, Derek Smith, said his son was responsible. He had left his own car at home because it did not have a warrant of fitness.

The teenager had just got a job working diggers. He planned to get truck driving licence and was always taking some type of Holden to pieces and restoring it.

Students said the party was advertised on posters in Hillcrest High School toilets.

Nicholas Smith was a former pupil at the school.

The principal, Kelvin Whiting, said yesterday that he was in contact with police and guidance counsellors preparing for students' return to school after the holidays.

He said parties organised outside school time were not the school's responsibility.

Mr Whiting said he had not known about the posters.

Students said the party was under control.

Police had arrived at one stage and had taken liquor from underage drinkers.

Mr Smith's funeral will be held this afternoon in Newstead, Hamilton.