Teenagers' tragic crash stuns Taupo

By CATHY ARONSON and ROSALEEN MacBRAYNE

A rose bush commemorates the spot where three Taupo teenagers died in a car smash.

More than 20 friends gathered on Broadlands Rd, 10km north of Taupo, yesterday to remember Graeme Bignell, aged 16, and Sarah Anderson and Natasha Jakschik, both 15, whose deaths a week before the end of the school term stunned the town.

A fourth youth, Patrick Glynn, 16, is in Waikato Hospital intensive care unit with head and internal injuries.

Friends have planted a pink rose bush and installed a yellow cross marked "Natasha" next to 20 bunches of flowers on a mound at the end of a 15m skid-mark on Broadlands Rd.

Natasha was planning her 16th birthday party for May 21.

Now her friends will gather this afternoon for Graeme's funeral, tomorrow for Natasha's and on Wednesday for Sarah's funeral.

Damien Ireland, 16, said he last saw his friend Graeme after school on Friday, when a group barbecue was planned at a Broadlands reserve, close to where the accident happened. Afterwards, they were to have "cruised to town, like a normal Friday."

Graeme Bignell was driving on a restricted licence, which forbids passengers. The group were in his Honda CRX about 8 pm when he u-turned into the path of a truck laden with woodchips.

Three youths in another car saw the truck push the Honda 85m down the road.

Graeme and Natasha died at the scene and Sarah died in hospital.

The Rotorua truck driver was shocked but unhurt.

Friends of Natasha and Sarah said both girls were bubbly and always smiling "from ear to ear."

Mrs Dianne Jakschik said Natasha was involved in a range of sports but always found time for her family. She came home every day for lunch with her mother and older brother Benjamin.

On Friday Natasha kissed her brother on the cheek before she left. "She had never done that before. She kissed him goodbye," said Mrs Jakschik.

Natasha was a student at Taupo-Nui-a-Tia College and the other three attended Tauhara College. Students twill be offered counselling today.

Tauhara principal Peter Grant said police officers who attended the accident would address a special assembly this morning.

"We want to dispel any rumours about alcohol and drugs or hoonish behaviour. That is not what happened. A simple mistake occurred."

Acting Sergeant Dave Frazer, of the Taupo police traffic unit, expressed concern about the number of young drivers breaching the terms of restricted licences. Passengers also had a responsibility not to travel with someone on a limited licence, he said. Inexperienced drivers could easily make a bad call.

Taupo District Council mayor Joan Williamson said the town had experienced a "rollercoaster of emotions" over the weekend.

"Some of these kids are so shocked they really need counselling. They are rallying together ... They're going out to the spot where it happened and facing up to it.

"It's such a terrible waste of young life. Suddenly they realise they're vulnerable."