Southland crash kills mother and daughter, Nepalese community in shock

The intersection near Invercargill where two members of Southland's Nepalese community died on their way to work. Photo / Google Maps

The Nepalese community is in shock after two of its members died in a car crash eight minutes away from work.

Anita Pathak and daughter Dikshika Pathak were killed in a two-vehicle crash at a Fairfax-Isla Bank Rd intersection, 30 minutes north of Invercargill, on Tuesday morning.

The son and brother of the pair, Dip Pathak, was driving the car, reported The Southland Times.

He was treated in Southland Hospital with minor injuries and was discharged the same day.

He told the newspaper he was too emotional to talk about the deaths when approached for comment.

The deceased were travelling to Blueberry Country Southland for work when they died.

Firefighters freed another seriously injured person trapped in the other car.

Southland Nepalese Society said the deaths have caused “huge emotional and financial damage to the family” and the family is going through a difficult situation.

“We offer our heartfelt condolences and pay tribute to the departed souls and express our deepest sympathy to Mr Ramesh Pathak and the entire grieving family.”

Blueberry Country Southland said it was devastated and with “sadness that we acknowledge the terrible accident” that killed the pair.

“On behalf of all our staff we send loving support to the injured and condolences to the whole family at this terrible time.”

The wider community has come out in support of the family.

“We heard the crews go past and were so worried when the sirens stopped too close,” said one person on social media who was across the road at the time of the crash. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and team at this time.”

Southland Nepalese Society started a fundraiser to support the family, and asked “everyone to support the family as much as possible”.

Details of the fundraiser can be found on the Southland Nepalese Society’s Facebook page.