Taupo girl's road death - 'This can't happen again'

Casey Lind was travelling just 53km/h when her car slid on a road just outside Taupo. Yet somehow she died. Her family wants to make sure a similar tragedy never happens, reports CHRIS BRAMWELL.
The mother of a 16-year-old who died a lonely death in a freak car accident just outside Taupo is urging authorities to erect a barrier on the road.

Sonja Lind wants the barrier placed on the corner where her daughter Casey died last week, after her car slid on the wet road and rolled down a bank.

The teenager was driving home along Poihipi Rd around 10pm last Wednesday after dropping her boyfriend home in Taupo.

Her car left the road on the sweeping left-hand bend and plunged down the bank. It was not discovered until just after 8am the next day, when a passing truck driver alerted police.

Casey was found to have died at the scene, her body trapped in the car.

Mrs Lind had been up constantly during the night calling people trying to find her daughter.

"I went to her school in the morning to find her. I was pretty angry. But once I realised she wasn't there I became really worried.

"When we were driving home we came across the police on the road. They went down and had a look and came back and told me it was Casey. I couldn't believe it."

Mrs Lind said she wanted to see "something really solid" placed above the bank.

"This can't happen again," she said.

Taupo police crash analyst Senior Constable Peter Sowter said he had recommended to the Rotorua district traffic manager that something be done along the stretch of road sooner rather than later.

"The process is slow. It will have to go to the coroner and that could take several months, and in the meantime, this could happen again. I am hoping we can speed the process up a bit," Mr Sowter said.

He said Casey was not speeding when the accident occurred and was wearing her seatbelt.

"She was travelling at 53km/h when she slid on the road and overcorrected. She then went backwards down the bank."

He said the accident was probably caused by a combination of inexperience and bad weather conditions.

Taupo District Council works manager Mike Keys said the council was looking at a range of options for improving safety on the road, including better signs and possibly a barrier.

He was unable to say which option was most likely or when it might happen.

The Lind family only moved out of Taupo to their newly built home on family land at Oruanui Rd in August.

The family are seriously considering moving back so they don't have to drive past the corner every day.

They describe Casey as bright, bubbly, outgoing, and good at sport, particularly netball.

The Year 12 student did well at school, particularly in drama, receiving first equal place in excellence for NCEA at the senior prizegiving.

A model for the school's wearable arts show, she dreamed of starring on Shortland Street.

Taupo-nui-a-Tia College principal Graham Ryan described her as a superb student.

"Casey was very positive, very hard working, absolutely no difficulties at all," he said.

Around 900 people attended her funeral on Monday.

Her younger sister Zoe, 14, and brother Rhys, 12, have been off school since the accident.

Mrs Lind said they were all coming to grips with it slowly.

"None of us have really been able to eat. We make some food - but then don't really eat it.

"Rhys has Casey's car keys and isn't letting them go. We are all coping in our own way," she said.