Family unaware of grandma's death

Police and Emergency Services attend the fatal crash. Photograph / Greg Bowker

Family members of a Tahitian tourist looked frantically for her unaware she had been hit by a bus and was lying dead under a sheet nearby.

Jeanine Bennett, 76, was hit by a city-bound Waka Pacific bus on Great South Rd, Epsom, about 8.40am yesterday. The impact left a large crack on the windscreen and was so loud nearby residents thought it was the sound of two vehicles colliding.

Mrs Bennett left the Dilworth Motel intending to catch a bus to go shopping in the city when she was hit. People rushed from nearby apartments to help her until ambulance officers arrived, but she died within minutes from severe head injuries.

About half-an-hour later family members, including her granddaughter, left the motel and were standing in the bus shelter watching the accident scene unaware she was the victim.

"We are looking for our grandmother," they said, frantically calling her on their cellphones. They said she could have been going to SkyCity.

When told the time of the accident one woman closed her eyes and threw her hands into the air. Police officers then confirmed an elderly woman had died causing her to crouch down in shock, while others began crying.

Motel owner Kwang Kim said Mrs Bennett was a regular visitor to New Zealand and stayed at his motel each time.

He said the family had been in Auckland two weeks and planned to leave the country tomorrow. Mrs Bennett always stopped to say hello, but he didn't see her before the accident.

Her husband, Gaston Bennett, was inside the motel when she was hit. "He was in the room and Jeanine went out to buy something."

Close friends who were acting as translators were staying with the couple while their relatives stayed in a unit next door.

"They all came here for a holiday ... They had mainly [been] shopping."

Mr Kim had known her for several years. "She has been coming here for a long time, about six or seven years, up to three times a year."

Andy Mygind, 55, was working on his car when he heard the crash. He took a blanket to keep the victim warm, thinking she was still alive.

"We rolled her over to try and stop the bleeding ... I thought she was still breathing."

When he saw the extent of her head injury it was clear it wasn't survivable. He said the bus driver took off his jacket to cover her and a doctor was also present.

Another resident, Sam Pilkington, 21, heard the crash and didn't think much of it because there were often accidents there. It wasn't until she went outside and saw a bloody sheet with feet sticking out the end she knew it was something more serious.

NZ Bus general manager Darek Koper said the driver was "deeply affected" by the accident. "He is being supported by workmates and friends and family."

Mr Koper said the driver would co-operate fully with police. "Our heartfelt thoughts are obviously with the family and friends [of Mrs Bennett] at this tragic time," he said.

Auckland City police serious crash unit wants to hear from any passengers who were on the bus at the time of the crash as well, as the doctor who assisted Mrs Bennett.

Witnesses should call (09) 359 3106.