The horrific crash just south of Picton on State Highway 1 and has sent shock waves through the Filipino community and the nation. NZ Herald's Adam Pearse reports. Video / George Heard
The driver of a van that collided head-on with a truck, killing seven of the nine people onboard, is among the dead, police have confirmed.
The horrific crash occurred yesterday morning just south of Picton on State Highway 1 and has sent shock waves through the small community.
Images ofthe crash scene show the van, which was heading towards Picton, was completely destroyed by the impact.
Inspector Simon Feltham, Marlborough police area commander, said an investigation into the crash was progressing.
"Police can confirm that one of the deceased was the driver of the van at the time of the crash.
Meanwhile, a friend of the seven people who died has spoken of spending the night with them in Christchurch before they made the fateful drive to return home.
"You spend every spare moment thinking of the what-ifs and the whys," said Bill, who contacted Newstalk ZB this morning.
Three generations of the Auckland family, which includes members of the Filipino community, died in the crash. Bill revealed what they did when they came to stay with him on Saturday night.
"They spent some of their last hours on earth with me on Saturday night, Sunday morning," Bill told Newstalk ZB Canterbury Mornings host John MacDonald.
"This was a vibrant family - my friend was a high school teacher ... his wife started an online business and he was really proud of her.
"They had four boys and girls ... One of the boys had married a Taiwanese young lady and it was their baby that died.
"I was really taken with this young woman, she was so nice and it really hits home at my heart that she's gone and the baby's gone.
"Her husband survived … he's going to wake up and find that he's now alone."
'This is really a terrible and shocking news for the community'
Romy Udanga, an Auckland Filipino community leader, said he was shocked to learn that most of those killed in the crash were members of the community.
Udanga said members of the community in Wellington were on standby to help the two survivors - a man and a teenager - in Wellington Hospital.
"This is really a terrible and shocking news for the community, and all our thoughts are with the families and those affected," Udanga said.
"It really also serves as a wake-up call for others in the community to be extra careful on the roads this long weekend."
Matilde Figuracion, a Filipino living in Wellington, was meant to have travelled on the same ferry as those involved in the crash.
"The crash happened just minutes before us, and the roads were closed when we reached the Picton area. I was in shock when I heard what happened," she said.
"When I heard they are Filipino, I told the nurses in Wellington Hospital that I am here if they needed any help."
Emilie Shi, a former consul general of the Philippines, said the bodies of the deceased have been transferred to Christchurch.
There were nine people in the van and tragically seven of them, including an infant, were killed "in the blink of an eye" after their van appeared to cross the centreline on State Highway 1 south of Picton about 7.30am.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Bill said the family stayed with him in Rolleston, outside Christchurch, before heading north to get on the ferry from Picton to Wellington.
"My friend and I just chatted, we hadn't seen each other for four years, and the rest of the family just entertained themselves.
"Some slept - the guy that was driving when they left had a couple of hours sleep.
"One of the lads played a computer game and didn't bother to sleep but all the rest except for my friend snoozed a bit.
"They were just comfortable, they had pillows and blankets.
"I'd suggested why don't you stay and have more sleep and my friend said no we'll be okay we'll just slowly make our way up to Picton and get maybe have a couple of hours sleep when we get there while we wait for the ferry.
Scene of the crash where a van hit a truck on State Highway 1 south of Picton. Photo / George Heard
"So they left and I went to bed and never thought any more about it.
He said his friend's wife's sister was also with the group.
"When you hear about just a group of people who had an unfortunate ending it's just cold - I'd like people to know this was a real-life family with hopes and dreams," he said.
Bill did not know who was driving when the van crashed.
"I can only imagine that there was a moment where fatigue came in ... certainly there was no alcohol involved.
He said his friend had another daughter with his first wife.
