KEY POINTS:
Though tiny she was known for her love of playing rugby and mischievous nature, but it was her winning smile that endeared 15-year-old Stevie Ray Marks to her teachers and fellow pupils.
The pretty youngster's life was cut short when an alleged drink-driver ploughed into her as she walked home with three friends. The driver then allegedly sped off without stopping following the horrific smash in the small Bay of Plenty town of Matata on Tuesday night.
Her cousin, Velvet Marks, and their friend Darcy Stoneham, both also 15, were injured when the group was hit by the car on Mair St at 11.30pm.
Velvet's sister, Josie, was walking with the trio but escaped injury.
All the girls were students at Edgecumbe College, leaving a school and community in mourning. It is unclear what the girls were doing out, some family members saying they were walking home from a relative's house and others saying they had sneaked out to celebrate a friend's birthday.
The car's driver, 22-year-old Karma Jasmine McIvor, was allegedly almost twice the legal breath alcohol limit when she drove into the group and failed to stop.
She was arrested at her home, several kilometres away, a short time later and appeared in Whakatane District Court yesterday.
A saleswoman from Te Teko, she faces four charges, including drink-driving causing death, and failing to stop and ascertain injury.
According to court documents, McIvor had a breath alcohol reading of 795mcg per litre of breath. The legal limit is 400mcg.
She was remanded on bail until September 12 and did not seek name suppression.
Stevie Ray's friends and family were last night gathering at Rangitihi Marae in Matata in preparation for the arrival of her body.
Her father was on his way from Auckland and her mother, a member of the local volunteer fire brigade, was too distraught to talk.
Earlier, other family members, friends, and Edgecumbe College staff spoke of their sadness at losing the "bubbly, effervescent" 15-year-old.
Principal Gavin Greenfield said Stevie Ray was a cheerful girl with an inquiring mind.
"She was cheerful, she was smiling, she was talkative, she was fun."
He said she could also be mischievous and was known for testing the boundaries with her school uniform.
"She was a classic for having to tell her to take her sunglasses off."
Stevie Ray played in the school's girls' rugby team, which cancelled a planned game yesterday at the news of her death.
Her cousin, Acacia Hawaikirangi, said she was a good rugby player, despite being the smallest in the team, and loved being around her friends. "She was always happy in the morning," Acacia said.
Another cousin, Tamara Walker-Brady, said Stevie Ray was "pretty as", while Stevie Ray's 18-year-old brother, Chris, could not believe his beloved "baby sister" - one of seven children - was dead.
Grief counsellors attended Edgecumbe College in the morning and a special assembly was held to tell students about her death.
But most students already knew, having heard through text messages, and clung to each other amid tears, Mr Greenfield said.
The school has yet to decide how it will pay tribute to her.
The alleged hit-and-run happened on a 50km/h stretch of road outside the home of Adel Kerrison, who said she was woken by a loud bang and screams. She and others said the scene was one of carnage and very distressing.
Members of Stevie Ray's family arrived soon after and a local Maori elder held a tapu-lifting ceremony.
Police would not comment on the driver's speed. It is understood the girls were walking on the grass verge when they were hit. Stevie Ray died on the road, about 10m from where Darcy lay injured.
Darcy suffered head and leg injuries and was flown to Tauranga Hospital by the TrustPower TECT rescue helicopter. She was in a stable condition last night. Velvet, who suffered minor head injuries, was taken to Whakatane Hospital by ambulance and later discharged.
