'He lost control' - mum defends fatal crash teen

Pania Sepu Iona and family lay flowers where a car killed Nayan Woods in Christchurch on Friday evening. Photo / Joseph Johnson

The mother of the teenage driver facing police charges over a crash that killed a 4-year-old boy says her son is not a boyracer.

Ash Austin, 17, was driving a car that left the road and struck Nayan Samuel Woods, 4, and his brother Jacob, 6, as they walked along Linwood Ave in Christchurch with their mother Emma on Friday evening. Nayan was killed and Jacob was seriously injured.

The crash was one of two incidents within minutes that claimed the lives of children.

In a collision north of Auckland, a 10-year-old boy was killed and his younger brother was seriously injured.

Ash Austin's parents yesterday flew back to Christchurch from a holiday in Australia to support their son.

They had to face widely reported accusations their son was a boyracer who lost control of a 1999 Nissan Silvia registered to his parents while "drifting" along the road.

"Of course they're going to say that, but traffic would have been bumper-to-bumper," said Brenda Austin. "Simply, it's a loss of control on a wet road."

She said Ash had been driving home through rain in peak-hour traffic on a "greasy" road. "He just lost control."

Brenda said Ash was not physically injured and had attempted CPR on Nayan.

She said Ash was struggling to come to terms with the incident. "He's pretty distraught. He's far from his usual self."

Brenda said last night that she and her husband, Shaun, had yet to seek legal advice or speak to Nayan's family.

"We'd like to offer them our condolences but we will speak with police because it may not be appropriate."

Nayan and Jacob's parents, Duncan and Emma Woods, placed flowers and a teddy at the scene of Nayan's death, flanked by some of those who tried to help their sons.

They paid tribute to 4-year-old Nayan this afternoon, describing him as a fun loving boy.

"He was a best friend to his brother, Jacob and we will all miss him terribly," the couple said in a statement.

Jacob was in a "comfortable condition" in Christchurch Hospital and was expected to make a full recovery from his injuries, they said.

"We don't have any anger towards the motorist involved in this terrible
accident. It is a tragedy for us all."

Siblings Simanu and Julie Sepolu ran from their home to help after hearing the crash about 5pm on Friday.

Simanu said he saw Emma crying and hugging Nayan - then noticed Jacob trapped under the car.

"I thought he was gone, he was lying on the ground face down. All of a sudden I heard him crying. I ran and told him not to move. He was asking me 'what happened?'. I just kept saying, 'It's all right, just don't move'."

Jacob was trapped by the car and a large block of bricks. As the Sepolus struggled to free Jacob, Emma Woods fought to revive Nayan.

Julie Sepolu said: "She was trying to revive him, giving him CPR. She was also trying to comfort the other boy ... he was crying and crying. He just kept saying 'what happened?'

Nayan could not be saved. Jacob was rushed to Christchurch Hospital with multiple fractures, where his parents stayed at his bedside.

They interrupted their vigil only briefly to return to the crash site, where Emma broke down.

Simanu said: "I just told her 'I'm sorry for your loss, we all feel it.' It's not good."

That was when Duncan approached, asking: "Is this where my son died?"

Simanu said he tried to comfort him.

Police are still investigating the cause of the incident but said charges would be laid against the driver. Alcohol did not appear to be a factor.

Officers are also investigating the crash that killed a 10-year-old boy and put his 7-year-old brother in hospital. The crash involved eight people in two cars, which collided on the Hibiscus Coast Highway, north of Orewa, on Friday evening.

Locals said the highway was "notoriously dangerous" during wet weather.