Tragic loss brought home to students

Chanel College students re-lived the struggle of Porirua couple Brent and Christine Laurenson who lost their 18-year-old in a high-speed car crash.

Nathan Laurenson was killed in a car crash in Plimmerton in 2009 which also claimed the life of Udo Fourie, also 18.

Nathan and Udo had been at the beach celebrating Udo's birthday and had afterwards travelled as passengers in a modified Subaru Impreza with 22-year-old Nathan Cupit, who they barely knew, behind the wheel.

Cupit lost control of the car and struck another vehicle. Nathan died at the scene and Udo died soon afterwards. Cupit survived and was sentenced to seven months' home detention.

On the two-year anniversary, Mr and Mrs Laurenson launched The Ripple Effect, a presentation featuring a 20-minute DVD outlining the impact of the crash on them, their son's girlfriend Mel Lind and two of his mates.

Mrs Laurenson said they hoped to educate teens about making the right choices.

She said they started to tour to make sure "nobody else goes through what we're going through".

"They can learn and be a better driver and make the right decisions," she said.

Mrs Laurenson said the presentation had been well received in Wairarapa schools so far.

"To start off with, they're all talking ... then all of a sudden they realise what's happening and you can hear a pin drop in the room."

Wairarapa Road Safety Council co-ordinator Kerry Hefferen said most schools in the region would see the presentation.

A parent's evening was also held at Masterton Town Hall last night and proceeds were to be donated to the Students Against Drunk Drivers organisation.