Ruth Jane, 23, managed to escape from the submerged car but couldn't save her son. Photo / Brett Phibbs
A six-months pregnant woman is recovering in hospital after the car she was driving plunged into the Wairoa River yesterday, killing her 13-month-old son.
Ruth Jane, 23, managed to escape from the submerged car and alert rescuers to the plight of her son, Aizijah Kenneth Raupita, who was
still strapped in his car seat.
Sergeant Aubrey Ormond, who is based at Wairoa but was off-duty at the time, entered the murky river with two other divers and retrieved the baby, who was found to be dead when brought to the surface.
Senior Sergeant Tony Bates said Ms Jane's car left State Highway 2 at the Turiroa Cutting about 4km south of Wairoa, in northern Hawke's Bay, about 11am.
The southbound car crossed the right-hand lane and plunged down a bank into about eight metres of water.
A man who saw the crash dived in and helped get Ms Jane on to a water-ski boat that was on the river.
Police said it was not yet clear what caused her car to leave the road. It did not appear another vehicle was involved and the road was straight. A police serious crash unit is investigating.
The Hawkes Bay hospital is not releasing any details about the condition of Ms Jane, or her unborn child, at the request of her family.
- NZPA
