Shane Hohepa-Lennane died at the scene of a car crash in Cambridge on Wednesday night. Photo / Facebook
Shane Hohepa-Lennane died at the scene of a car crash in Cambridge on Wednesday night. Photo / Facebook
A man who died in a fatal police pursuit in Cambridge on Wednesday was preparing to get married in December.
Shane Hohepa-Lennane died at the scene of the crash in the suburb of Leamington after a car he was a passenger in allegedly fled police.
The crash happened on ScottSt near the intersection with Moore St about 6.45pm.
Another man, a long-time friend and flatmate of Hohepa-Lennane's, was seriously injured and that man's girlfriend, believed to have been thrown from the red BMW, is in a critical condition in Waikato Hospital.
The driver of the car, Cameron Thomas, was charged over the crash in a hearing held in his absence at Hamilton District Court on Friday.
Thomas, 34, was under police guard at Waikato Hospital with minor injuries but has been remanded in custody to appear in the High Court at Hamilton in October.
The scene at Leamington in Cambridge showing skid marks on a front lawn after a fatal car crash there on Wednesday night. Photo / Natalie Akoorie.
According to Facebook, where tributes have been flowing since Wednesday night for Hohepa-Lennane, the 27-year-old became engaged to long-term girlfriend Alisha Eichler on Christmas Eve last year and the couple were to tie the knot this December.
Hohepa-Lennane's death is the second tragedy in as many years after the couple lost their baby boy in August 2015.
The pair had hoped for a child for several years according to posts by Hohepa-Lennane.
Hohepa-Lennane's death was acknowledged in dozens of tributes on social media from friends and family.
Natalie Ashford wrote on his mother Janeen Hohepa's page: "From one mother to another my heart absolutely breaks for you, may your family and friends hold you up during this time mourning the loss of your beloved son but also treasuring the memories and celebrating the life of this awesome young man, our thoughts and love are with you and your family stay strong big hugs to you all."
Hohepa-Lennane, originally from Wellington, had just celebrated his birthday on September 10.
He previously played for the Marawatea Rugby Club in Hamilton.
On Friday sister Ebony Hohepa-Lennane said on Facebook her brother would be taken to Hemi Tapu Marae in Hamilton on Saturday afternoon.
Efforts by the Herald on Sunday to contact the family were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile Thomas, a father of no fixed abode, faces seven charges over the fatal crash.
They include manslaughter, two counts of reckless driving causing injury, one of failing to stop, failing to render assistance after the crash, driving while disqualified and driving with an excess breath alcohol.
Police allege Thomas was twice the legal driving limit when the BMW hit a parked car and a fence before rolling up to five times.
