Tragedy hits family twice

In 19 months New Zealand roads have claimed the second of three young sons of a Carterton couple with the death of their eldest in a head-on collision near Eketahuna on Saturday.
Clifford Anaru Armstrong, 25, of Hastings, was the sole occupant of a northbound car that crossed the centerline and collided with an oncoming courier truck soon after 4.30am on Saturday near the Waiwaka Bridge on SH2 south of Eketahuna.
Eketahuna sole charge Constable Dave Gallagher said Mr Armstrong was killed instantly in the collision.
The Masterton-based courier driver was unharmed, he said, and was taken by ambulance to Wairarapa Hospital for assessment.
Mr Armstrong is the eldest son of Trevor and Beryl Armstrong, of Carterton, who lost their middle son Thomas Armstrong, 22, after three cars ran over him in Hastings during the early morning of December 12, 2005.
Sonia Mulligan, the boys' aunty, said they were a strong family and very supportive of each other "we'll survive, together we'll be all right."
Ms Mulligan said Clifford and Thomas, along with their younger brother Stacey, 20, were raised in Carterton and all three boys attended Kuranui College.
"Cliffy had gone up to Hastings to start a new life and to be closer to Thomas, two months before he died."
She said Clifford was training as a boner at Progressive Meats in Hastings and would often visit friends in Carterton after work finished on a Friday, returning to Hastings and other friends over the weekend.
"He had a lot of mates in both places, and a lot of girlfriends as well.
"He was a bright and lovable chap with a smile that would melt anybody."
She said he would have been "making the return trip" when he collided with the truck on Saturday.
Mr Gallagher said the road was cordoned off for several hours while the Serious Crash Unit completed a scene examination and fire crews removed Mr Armstrong from the wreckage of his car and cleared the road, Mr Gallagher said.
"Speed was not involved and the courier driver is clear of any blame for the collision and what is a tragic loss of a young life."
The family of Mr Armstrong have visited the site and he took them through the known facts of the crash, he said. A Wairarapa service for Mr Armstrong was to be held in the Richmond Chapel in Carterton today and a funeral service will be held on Wednesday at the Matahiwi Marae in Hawke's Bay.