Maramarua crash claims life of 'bright bubbly girl'

A crash on State Highway 2 near Maramarua that claimed the life of Emilie Silberer. Photo / Westpac rescue helicopter

Students at a Waihi school are being offered counselling while police investigate whether fatigue or distraction played a part in the death of a teenager who was driving home.

Emilie Kirsten Silberer, a Year 13 student at Waihi College, was killed when her southbound Nissan Sentra collided head-on with a Toyota Aurion on Saturday afternoon on State Highway 2 near Maramarua.

The 17-year-old died at the scene. The female driver of the other vehicle was airlifted to Auckland City Hospital with critical injuries.

While police have dismissed speed and alcohol as factors in the crash, they are investigating what effect driver fatigue or distraction may have played in the accident.

Waikato road policing manager Inspector Leo Tooman described the head-on collision as a tragedy.

He said the serious crash unit was trying to establish the cause of the crash but initial indications were that Ms Silberer's vehicle crossed the centreline and crashed into the Toyota.

Yesterday, Ms Silberer's family were at their Waihi home with her boyfriend, Michael - who was in the front seat and suffered minor injuries in the accident - preparing for her funeral, which will be held at Waihi College on Friday.

Her mother, Sandy Silberer, said Emilie had played soccer for the school's 1st XI on Saturday morning in Thames.

"They won all their games, they haven't lost this year," she said.

Emilie and Michael then travelled to Auckland and were on the way home via Ngatea when the accident occurred about 4pm.

Mrs Silberer said her daughter was a good driver and had her full driver's licence, having undertaken a defensive driving course provided by her school.

Emilie was raised in Canada but enjoyed her life of five years in New Zealand coaching football to Year 7 and 8 students, patrolling Waihi Beach as a lifeguard and working part-time at a local supermarket.

"She was a vibrant, happy and smiling girl, she was always smiling," said Mrs Silberer.

Waihi College principal Alistair Cochrane described Emilie as a "bright, bubbly personality" and an "integral" part of the school, who on finishing school hoped to become a policewoman.

"Her dream was to join the police force and we had been talking with her recently about her career plans and how we could meet those," said Mr Cochrane.

"Unfortunately they have been brought to a rapid halt."

Mr Cochrane said the school held a special assembly yesterday and shocked students had been offered counselling.

"The students are dealing with it as well as can be expected but obviously there's a huge amount of emotion ... This really is a huge shock for all of us."

Some of Emilie's friends, including her lifesaving mates, took to the website Tumblr yesterday to express their grief.

"Going to be strange not having you always shouting at people around the surf club and telling them what to do," said one.

"You were an awesome lifeguard for the short time that you were and it was a privilege to be your patrol captain and it's been a privilege to know you.

"You were an awesome person and your sense of humour always lit up the patrol tower, or the back of the surfclub when you screamed at alfie for peeing on your car ... You will be sorely missed. R.I.P Emilie Silberer."