Woman mown down as she gives first aid to a friend

Melissa Viall

Melissa Viall was known as a sweet, caring person and it was her instinct to help that put her in the path of death yesterday.

The early childhood teacher raced to help a friend who had been hit by a car that careered into a group after a 21st birthday celebration in Pakuranga. But as she tried to provide first aid, the car turned and sped back into the crowd, hitting her.

By the time police arrived, she had died.

"It's tragic that a 23-year-old is mown down going to help a friend out," said Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Lynch.

Police were last night still piecing together how a 21st birthday party at Pakuranga's Tabu Bar turned into a tragedy that killed Ms Viall and left three men in hospital, one in a critical condition.

They believe a fight started shortly after 3am yesterday in a carpark at Highland Park between two groups of men.

Mr Lynch said the trouble was not thought to have started inside the bar. "The catalyst for this took place outside."

The running battle spilled on to Pakuranga Rd and one man got a car and "deliberately drove into the crowd".

Three men, aged 31, 27 and 19, were hurt and the teenager was in a critical condition in Middlemore Hospital last night.

Ms Viall, a student teacher, was trying to help one of the men as the car disappeared up the road. But it did a u-turn about 50m up the road and was driven into the dispersing crowd for a second time.

The young woman was using skills picked up on a first aid course that she had completed the previous day.

Ms Viall, who lived at home with her parents, was studying for a diploma in early childhood teaching. She worked at a Newmarket childcare centre.

Her mother, Colleen Viall, said last night: "She was always there for people ... she would have been there for them [the injured]. She was a great organiser. Her life was just starting."

Brother Dean described his sister as a social butterfly with lots of friends. "Whenever she was in the room, you were aware of her presence. I named her 'Moo' and it was picked up by her friends and everyone knew her as that. I couldn't say her name when I was young and it just stuck."

An uncle, Graham Viall, said she was a family person. "She loved the family. She's the kind of girl who wouldn't hurt a fly. She was just a beautiful kid. She was passionate about childcare and loved children."

A colleague at the childcare centre, Serena Blanc, said the close-knit team would be devastated.

Mr Lynch said police believed the driver was coming back to assist friends who were involved in the fight. It was thought he did not know the people he hit.

"We've no idea what started the initial altercation, but we now have two families facing tragic consequences."

The car, a red Nissan Sentra, had been found and handed over to a forensic team.

Police spent much of yesterday examining the scene. Part of Pakuranga Rd outside Pakuranga College was cordoned off until mid-afternoon. Last night a bunch of flowers had been laid at the scene.

More than 30 witnesses had been spoken to last night, but Mr Lynch said more would have to be interviewed.

Staff at the Caltex station, where the fighting broke out, said police had taken the film from the closed circuit television cameras.

* A 24-year-old Pakuranga man will appear in Manukau District Court this morning charged with murder.