Wellington man Prince Paul named after fatal crash, $80,000 fundraised for family

Nearly $80,000 has been fundraised for the family of a Wellington man who died in a crash when the car he was driving flipped into a stream.

At 8.05am on Wednesday morning, police were called to Mākara Rd when a car was found submerged upside down in a nearby stream.

A man and a woman were found dead inside the vehicle.

One victim can now be named as Prince Paul, a Malayalee Indian man. Ministry of Transport data shows he was the driver of the car.

A Givealittle page has been started by the Wellington Malayalee Association to raise funds for Paul’s wife and two young children.

“In one unimaginable moment, this young family has lost a devoted husband, a loving father, and their pillar of strength,” the page said.

The money would go towards funeral costs, repatriation of Paul’s body to India and support for his family to “rebuild their lives”.

A prayer service and viewing were held in Porirua two days after the crash.

Within the first 21 hours, the page had raised $50,000, and at the time of publication, the fundraiser was close to hitting its goal of $80,000.

The Givealittle page said Paul migrated to New Zealand in 2015.

He was known for his “gentle nature, warm smile, and quiet kindness”.

It said he had built a life he was proud of and had achieved his dream of buying his first home with his wife two years ago. Their children are aged just 3 and 1-and-a-half years old.

Police, Fire and Emergency and Wellington Free Ambulance were called to the crash on Mākara Beach Rd just after 8am on March 25. Photo / RNZ, Mark Papalii

Paul’s friend Don Varghese, who owns a cafe in Lower Hutt, said Paul would often come to his shop to chat with him.

Varghese described Paul as a “hard working” and “ambitious” man who was studying to become an electrician.

The Wellington Malayalee Association said online it extended “heartfelt condolences” to Paul’s family and loved ones.

“He will be remembered with warmth and affection by all who knew him.

“May God grant strength and comfort to his family during this difficult time.”

Mākara Rd, where the accident happened, is known to be a narrow and winding road that stretches from Mākara Beach to Karori.

Locals commenting online about the crash said the road was “crazy”, “treacherous” and “hairy” to drive on, even in good weather.

“This road is so windy and all over the place, I’m saddened but not surprised this happened on this road,” one person wrote.

After Paul’s death, the Wellington Malayalee Association announced it would be postponing Aarpo Kerala Fest, a cultural festival event that was meant to take place in April.

Family of the other person who died in the crash have declined to comment.

Janhavi Gosavi is a Wellington-based journalist for the New Zealand Herald who covers news in the capital.