Sister lives through girl

Valentina and her mother, Abril, who drove the truck in which she and Liz died. Photo / Supplied

When Kiwi Liz Hardwick-Smith died with six others in a truck crash in Mexico, one of the few survivors was a little girl.

Valentina Gomez was orphaned by the crash, but now the New Zealand woman's family has set up a fund to support the 9-year-old girl.

Hardwick-Smith died when she was thrown from a vehicle that went out of control on a narrow road in the state of Chihuahua, plunging 15m into a steep gully.

The 42-year-old Aucklander had blogged about her trip to Mexico, detailing the "trip of a lifetime" as she learned to surf, speak Spanish and practise yoga.

Her sister, Susan, a doctor who lives in Texas, said she had struggled to make sense of her sister's June death.

"I want to make something good out of what by all accounts is a tragedy beyond words," Susan said.

"As soon as I heard that there were two children who survived the crash, I was determined to find out about them and see if there was something that I could do to help them,".

An 18-month-old baby who survived the crash was placed with family members, but Susan found little Valentina needed help.

When she travelled to Mexico to identify Liz, she decided to set up a fund with the parents of another victim, Chris Willemin.

"We can't bring them back, but we can allow them to live on by making the event that caused their deaths somehow improve the life of another person."

"By helping Valentina we can give their hearts to her, so that if they had to die, she can live a better life.

"Valentina's mother, Abril, was driving the truck that day and her stepfather, Mario, also died in the accident. Valentina was conscious throughout the ordeal and remembers Liz and Chris," Susan said.

The group was on a day-trip to Recowata hot springs when the accident happened.

"Valentina recalls that, on a steep decline on the way down to the springs, Abril was not able to slow the truck down: the brakes failed," Susan said.

"Abril lived for a short time, until Valentina saw her wake up and stand and then die in front of her, leaving Valentina an orphan. She sat among the bodies of her family and newfound friends until help came to the crash site," she said.

Valentina's grandmother, Georgina, lives in San Antonio, Texas, and is a US citizen.

"She is struggling to find a way to adopt Valentina [because] the international adoption process is complex and expensive," Susan said.

"Not knowing where to turn, Georgina accepted my offer to find her a good immigration attorney and a long and potentially difficult process is beginning, to arrange for her adoption. She will also need money to help with Valentina's education, as well as other expenses."

Susan set up a website to appeal to Chris and Liz's friends and families to help with Georgina's legal fees and the little girl's education.

"We share a bond with Valentina because she was there when our beloved ones died; she was the last living person to see them both. That means a lot ," she said.

If you would like make a donation, go to www.valentinafund.com