Family's grief over Issy's shock death

Israel Jack, known as Issy, was killed on Te Ngae Rd on Sunday morning. Photo / Supplied

Ayla Jack read about a man's death on Twitter early Sunday morning but didn't know it was her brother until a police car later that day showed up at the home they shared.

Israel Jack, known as Issy, was killed on Te Ngae Rd near Robinson Ave after he was hit by a car around 4.20am. The 20-year-old former Rotorua Boys' High School student lived at Otakiri, near Edgecumbe, but visited friends in Rotorua each weekend.

Ms Jack said she had just returned from a trip to Melbourne and her drive home was extended because of diversions around a fatal crash at Hell's Gate. She had just five minutes with Issy before he left for Rotorua on Saturday.

"I'm happy to have seen him and spoken to him for a short while before he passed away, but it's gut-wrenching it was so short," she said.

"He was a really happy dude. He loved life. He was always there for his mates and his family.

"I have two daughters and he was really close to them. He'll leave a massive gap in our family."

Issy was a forestry worker who loved cars and trail bikes and hanging out with his nieces, Ms Jack said. He travelled to Rotorua every weekend but why he was alone on Te Ngae Rd she does not know.

"He has quite a few friends who live around there. We thought he might have been going to McDonald's. We don't know. He was with his friends earlier in the night and they got separated somehow, which his friends said wasn't out of character.

"You never expect that sort of thing to happen to someone you know.

"I read an article about it [linked] on Twitter around 9 or 10 and tweeted about it. I was quite shocked but didn't think of him. He was normally home reasonably early on a Sunday but when he still wasn't home by 3pm I got a bit worried and then the cop car came up the driveway and I just knew."

Mr Jack's body was due to arrive at Te Takinga Marae, Mourea, last night. His tangi will be tomorrow at 11am.

Rotorua road policing manager Senior Sergeant Brendon Keenan said inquiries were ongoing over Mr Jack's death but charges of drink-driving would be laid against the driver of the car which hit him.

Mr Keenan said it was vital friends looked after each other if they were going out drinking and ensured they all got home safe.