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Home / New Zealand

Road toll: Mother and son 'will always be in our hearts'

By Lauren Priestley
NZME.·
11 May, 2015 02:04 AM3 mins to read

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Jenny Town, 41, and her 14-year-old son Zane Town died after the crash near Marton. Photo / Givealittle

Jenny Town, 41, and her 14-year-old son Zane Town died after the crash near Marton. Photo / Givealittle

Tributes are pouring in on social media for a mother and son who died in a car crash on Saturday.

Whanganui woman Jennifer Susan Town, 41, and her 14-year-old son Zane Town were killed in a two-car crash on State Highway 3 near Marton on Saturday afternoon.

A Palmerston North woman in the other car, Judy Daryl Redfearn, was critically injured and died in hospital later that night.

They are three of the 10 people who died on New Zealand's roads over the weekend.

A 'Support the Town family' page has been set up on fundraising site Givealittle.co.nz by family friend and Wanganui High School head girl Renee Harrison.

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It has raised $775 so far.

She wrote on the page that the families had got to know each other when Zane and Blair Harrison started at Kartsport Manawatu together.

Ms Town and Zane were travelling back to Wanganui after a day at the track and were accompanied by Ms Town's daughter Rachel, son Hayden and grandson Lucas when the accident occurred, she wrote.

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"This is a loving family, who didn't deserve to be dealt this tragic loss.

"Any help that you could give to this family would be greatly appreciated."

A memorial Facebook page "R.I.P Zane" has been set up and so far has 2130 likes.

A post by the page moderator said a lot of people were hurt because the pair had died.

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"Although Jenny and Zane has gone up to the stars they will always be in our hearts xxx R.I.P Jenny & Zane Town."

Family members have also been expressing their loss on social media.

Ms Town's daughter Nicole Town thanked the people leaving tributes and said it was a hard time for the family.

"Thank you very much for all the comments it's very hard on us as myself and siblings Rachel and Hayden lost our beautiful mother jenny and my father lost his wife of 20 years also our brother/son Zane," she wrote.

Adam Christiaans wrote about the extended family's pain on another Facebook post.

"Love u aunty Jenny Town And little cuz Zane Town...it still doesnt feel real at all," he said.

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"This isnt fair at all. Y is it always the nicest ppl that get taken so early!!! R.I.P to the both of u and please keep looking out for us like u have always done.."

The incident on Saturday was the worst car accident St John Whanganui territory manager John Stretton had seen in a while, he said.

"It was a big, big job and certainly not something you want to do every day. We certainly feel for the families," he said.

Investigations by the police serious crash unit are ongoing.

Anyone with information should call 06 351 2535, or they can speak anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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