Mother, son die in crash with log truck

The truck driver was not injured in the fatal crash but was receiving councelling. Photo / Supplied

A mother and her young son were killed yesterday when their car was crushed in a collision with a logging truck.

Rachel Lee Wallace, 37, and Lockie, 3, died after Ms Wallace's car and a truck collided west of Huntly.

She was on her way from the Pukemiro home she shared with partner Michael Chubb and their 2-year-old daughter, Molly, to take Lockie to kindergarten in Huntly.

In a cruel twist, the couple had already lost a daughter, Jade, to cancer about six years ago.

Police investigating the 8.25am crash on Rotowaro Rd said it appeared Ms Wallace, who used to work at Countdown Huntly, lost control of the car as she rounded a bend and smashed into the truck.

Lockie died at the scene. Ms Wallace was taken by the Westpac Waikato air ambulance to Waikato Hospital, but died shortly after arriving.

The truck driver tried unsuccessfully to take evasive action to avoid the crash.

He was uninjured but was receiving counselling.

A friend of Ms Wallace, who did not want to be named, said the tiny Pukemiro community was reeling from the deaths. "It's very sad, put our little township into shock."

Mr Chubb would have a strong support network but he was probably still in shock too, she said.

"I can only imagine that he's not [coping], as you wouldn't, after having one tragedy in your family and then this.

"I think he will be in shock and just wanting to spend time with his little girl and his family."

The friend said Jade's death had rocked the community.

"We're a small township and they had tremendous support when they lost Jade."

The woman said she had had "several cries" already but was thankful that Molly, who was with her father when the accident happened, had not been in the car.

Ms Wallace and Mr Chubb, who is listed on the electoral roll as a baker, were excellent parents, the friend said. "You couldn't ask for better parents."

The Waikato district road policing manager, Inspector Leo Tooman, said the crash was particularly difficult because of the death of a child.

He said six of the police staff who went to the crash site had children under 5 and all would be offered counselling.

"It's not easy. They were thinking, 'This could have been my child'."

He said the deaths took the Waikato road toll to 46 this year, making it a sad Christmas for every family who had lost a loved one.