Fatal crash opens eyes to driving dangers

Friends gather in front of a memorial dedicated to Waihi College students Dylan Perkinson and Vance Williams. Photo / Alan Gibson

A gathering of grieving teenagers yesterday remembered two classmates killed in a crash that some called a "real eye-opener" about safety.

Waihi College students Dylan Perkinson, 17, and Vance Williams, 16, died when their car hit an oncoming vehicle early on Saturday morning.

Two other teenagers in their car were injured, and the driver of the other vehicle was also killed.

More than 100 teenagers gathered at Waihi Beach Primary School yesterday lighting candles and sharing memories of their lost classmates.

"I feel ripped. It doesn't seem real. I can't believe it happened. You just wouldn't expect it happening to people, would you ..." said one girl.

Marc Cornaz said that coming together helped them to deal with the situation.

"It's been real hard, a real eye-opener," Marc said.

"But it's made everyone closer and made everyone talk about driving."

Police have said the dead teenagers were not wearing seatbelts when their car crossed the centre line and smashed into the oncoming vehicle.

The teenage driver was on a restricted licence and speeding, police said.

The man in the other car was decorated soldier and father of three Mark Sydney, 45, whose funeral was held yesterday.

Samantha Jones said she used to spend every weekend with the boys.

It was out of character for them to act recklessly, the 16-year-old said.

"We were always together, doing real random stuff, just driving around."

They always had a sober driver when drinking, she said.

"And they would tell me they can't pick me up if they were drinking, they're not going to risk it," Samantha added.

"It was a once in a blue moon thing. They must have thought they were going to be safe, just that one time."

Dylan - whom friends called "Perky" - and Vance were remembered as fun and always happy.

"They were always smiling, just cheeky, both of them. I never saw them angry," said Emma Philson.

Pastor Ryan Pollard, who helped to organise the memorial, said there was a need in the community for the teenagers to connect and make sense of the tragedy.

"They're really going through it. The ones closest to the kids who died are at that stage where it feels like their whole world is wrecked," Mr Pollard said.

Waihi College principal Alistair Cochrane said there would not be the usual level of excitement when students returned from the holidays for classes restarting on Monday.

"They're pretty traumatised by it."