'Life as we know it is all over'

Joy Taffard sits at an impromptu shrine to her best friend Karen Jolly. Picture / Richard Robinson

As Karen Jolly headed off to pick up her son last Saturday her best friend Joy Taffard wished her happy Mother's Day for the following day.

Moments later the car the 44-year-old West Auckland woman was travelling in was hit by a motorist believed to be speeding at the intersection of Awaroa and Gt North Rds.

"She got in the car and drove away [from my place]" said Mrs Taffard.

"Six minutes later life as we know it was all over."

The next day, as other families celebrated Mother's Day, Ms Jolly's friends and family gathered at her bedside in Auckland Hospital to say their final goodbyes.

Her death follows that of another Auckland mother, 37-year-old Nicole Mace, who was hit by a car while crossing Ponsonby Rd last week.

While both accidents are still being investigated, police say excessive speed is believed to be involved in each case. There are also indications that the young drivers involved in both accidents may have been racing other cars..

Witnesses to last Saturday's accident say Ms Jolly was waiting to turn right into Gt North Rd when two cars came speeding up Waikumete hill.

One of the cars, driven by a young man, lost control, flew over a small island in the road then ploughed directly into her drivers' door.

The second car continued along Gt North Rd without stopping.

Ms Jolly, who had to be cut from her mangled car, received massive injuries.

Even so, the "fiercely independent and stubborn" woman lived long enough for her friends and family to gather at her bedside.

"The miracle was that she stayed alive long enough for everybody to say goodbye," said Mrs Taffard. "She was so stubborn that even in the last hours she put everybody first so they could say goodbye."

Mrs Taffard described her best friend as a devoted mother and talented seamstress who was about to launch her own line of evening wear.

She recalls a woman who was always running late but was full of life - with a sense of humour and a soft spot for injured animals. Over the years Ms Jolly was known to share her home with many a creature, including guinea pigs, rabbits and even a mouse.

As a funeral is held today for the woman who "touched everyone's hearts" police will continue their investigation into the crash.

Officer in charge of the Serious Crash Unit, acting sergeant Stu Kearns, said it would be some time before the investigation was complete and police were still seeking assistance from witnesses.

In particular they would like to hear from the man who was driving alongside the car that hit Ms Jolly.

"It will look a lot better for the other person if they come and see us and give us their version of event, than if we have to go and find them," said Mr Kearns stressed.

Ms Jolly's partner Ron said he was concerned about safety at the intersection where she was hit. He will talk to Waitakere City Council about improving access onto Gt North Rd by introducing traffic lights or a roundabout.