Girl dies, mother to face court

Bryer Greenwood had her life planned ... but she died after a car crash when she was aged just 12. Photo / Supplied

The mother of a 12-year-old girl who died after a road crash north of Auckland will appear in court next week charged with causing death while driving under the influence of drugs.

And it has been revealed that Toni Ericksen was prohibited from driving at the time of the crash.

Bryer Greenwood died in hospital from traumatic brain injuries caused by a two-vehicle crash just north of Helensville on July 9.

At the time, emergency services staff said Bryer's mother was driving the car when it collided with a four-wheel-drive vehicle on the Kaipara Coast Highway.

The passenger side of the car, where Bryer and her 8-year-old sister Gemma were sitting, smashed into the 4WD.

Ericksen was driving the girls home to Kaukapakapa after Gemma's Saturday morning netball game when the crash happened.

The Weekend Herald can today reveal that after a lengthy police investigation, 32-year-old Ericksen has been summonsed to court to face serious driving charges.

She is required to appear in the Waitakere District Court on Tuesday morning and faces four charges - causing death while driving under the influence of drugs, two of injuring while under the influence of drugs and, being an unlicensed driver, driving while prohibited.

Police would not comment on what drugs Ericksen was allegedly under the influence of, or whether she was banned from driving because of earlier convictions or simply unlicensed.

The maximum penalty for killing a person while driving under the influence of drugs is five years in jail or a fine of $20,000.

Ericksen did not speak at her daughter's funeral, but sat in the front row with Gemma, who had stitches in a cut to her face and her arm bandaged heavily.

After the service, Ericksen cried and looked shocked and drained as she hugged Bryer's friends outside.

Bryer's father, Ken Greenwood, Ericksen's ex-husband, would not comment yesterday.

But after her funeral, he told the Weekend Herald that Bryer "rocked the world".

"She was beautiful, she was smart. And she loved her daddy. I buried my brother three months ago and she was there for me. She held my hand, she looked after me. My girl was gorgeous."

Mr Greenwood said he was incredibly proud of Bryer, who was an "immensely beautiful person".

"She knew where she was going and she knew how she was going to get it ... The gap this little girl has left cannot be filled."

Bryer attended Kaukapakapa School and was described by principal Tony Westrupp as "an excellent student" who demonstrated a "maturity well above her years".

"She had a vibrant personality," he said. "Bryer was gifted, artistic, passionate about life. She was an inspiration to all around her. She was loved by everyone. She was the best role model we could wish for."

Her best friend described her as "extraordinary" and told mourners how they had planned to travel to Egypt and South America together.

She said Bryer dreamed of becoming an archaeologist, travelling and having four children - and she already had their names picked out.

The charges
* Causing death while driving under the influence of drugs.
* Two counts of injuring while under the influence of drugs.
* Unlicensed driver, driving while prohibited.