State Highway 2 Horokiwi crash: Family mourns woman killed in front of son

A woman was killed after exiting her vehicle in the southbound lanes of State Highway 2 at Horokiwi last night.. Image / Google Maps

A woman was killed in front of her son when she got out of their car after a minor crash on a Wellington motorway and was then hit by another vehicle.

Angela Brooks was a passenger in the car being driven by her adult son when they were involved in a nose-to-tail crash in the southbound lanes of State Highway 2 at Horokiwi, near Lower Hutt, last night, her sister Nicki Dutton told the Herald.

Dutton, a Salvation Army Porirua captain, understood her sister was trying to reach someone dealing with another vehicle-related incident in the northbound lanes when she was struck just before 6.30pm.

Brooks, whose husband died some years ago, was 58 and lived in Naenae, Dutton said.

Her nephew, Brooks’ only child, wasn’t hurt but “very in shock” and is being supported.

“It’s not the sort of thing you want to witness … his cousins are there [with him] and he’s got people from church who have been incredibly supportive for him.”

A police spokeswoman confirmed officers were not at the scene when Brooks was struck.

Dutton didn’t know anything about the driver who struck her sister, and it was “hard to have any feelings” before knowing the circumstances, she said.

“Regardless of what happened or how it happened, it’s something that the person is going to have to live with for the rest of their life.

“I don’t think anyone else can make it any worse than what they’re probably feeling themselves … [and] there’s no point being angry with somebody when you don’t know the whole story. It’s a bit of a waste of emotion, really.”

Her sister, who was also involved in the Salvation Army, had a “larger than life” personality and was always helping others, Dutton said.

“She’s very caring, she’d give you the shirt off her back. She was always, always helping somebody.”

As well as her son and Dutton, Brooks is survived by her brother and elderly mother.

Immediate medical assistance was provided after Brooks was struck, police said this morning.

“However, sadly, she was unable to be revived. Police wish to thank the public for their patience while the Serious Crash Unit and other specialists attended the incident.”

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) confirmed they had contractors attending a crash on the highway’s northbound lanes at the time.

“NZTA/Waka Kotahi extends its condolences to the family and friends of the woman killed in the fatal crash on State Highway 2 in Wellington on Friday night,” said Mark Owen, NZTA regional manager for Lower North Island / Top of the South.

“We can confirm contractors attended a crash on the highway’s northbound lanes at the time.

“As southbound traffic slowed, there was a minor nose-to-tail crash in the highway’s nearby southbound lanes.

“This was a tragic incident which we understand will be devastating to the victim’s loved ones, but also to all those who witnessed it.

“As the matter is under a formal police investigation, we are unable to comment further.”