A tyre blowout in a truck is suspected to have triggered the nightmare motorway accident that claimed the lives of three seasonal workers who were heading to Auckland before flying home.
Three seasonal workers from Samoa who survived a horror crash in Ramarama are recovering in hospital and coming to terms with the deaths of three of their colleagues.
In a press conference this afternoon Counties Manukau Road Policing Manager Inspector Tony Wakelin said those who died in the Southern Motorway were aged 47, 37 and 32.
A 21-year-old remained in a critical condition in hospital and two others were also being treated for injuries suffered in the crash.
Police yesterday confirmed that three people had been killed in a crash shortly before 2pm yesterday, between Ramarama and Bombay, on State Highway 1.
A truck and three other vehicles were involved in the incident; which resulted in long delays in and around South Auckland’s motorway network.
Wakelin said initial indications suggested the truck travelleing in a southbound lane had a tyre blow out.
The truck then crossed the median into the northbound lane, colliding with a van and two other vehicles.
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Wakelin said those killed were seasonal workers due to go back to Samoa this week.
“This was a horrific crash, and we are continuing to provide support for everyone affected, including emergency workers at the scene.”
He described it as a “tragic” crash that was very difficult to prevent.
One of the survivors managed to video-call fellow workers last night to describe what had happened.
Speaking in Samoan from his hospital bed, he shares the news that like him, two other colleagues in hospital were alive.
Translated, he says: “I’ve got word that they are doing well. Praise God.”
But as he gets to the news about the three killed, he is overcome with emotion and, breaking down, says: “As for the brothers...it’s not easy for me to tell you.”
An Auckland-based relative of another survivor told the Herald they had got word that their cousin had been unconscious for some time and had only woken up in the early hours of this morning.
He said they had yet to speak with the young man, but confirmed there had been six people travelling in the van at the time of the crash.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he had not yet been in touch with Samoa’s Prime Minister Afioga Fiame Naomi Mataafa but wanted to speak to her in person at the Pacific Islands Forum.
Luxon flies to Tonga to attend that forum later today. “That was a conversation I want to talk to her about personally. I hope to see her tomorrow morning and I’m going to talk to her about it then.”
Samoan media reported that the group had been on their way to Auckland, from the Bay of Plenty, ahead of a flight back to Samoa this week.
It is understood the driver of the van was not a seasonal worker but was the uncle of one of the men killed.
Members of the Samoan community in and around New Zealand - and particularly in Auckland - are rallying to help the families of the men killed; as well as offering support to those men recovering in hospital.
A GiveALittle fundraising page has been set up by South Auckland community leader Li’amanaia Lorenzo Kaisara to help the families of the men killed.
The money will be donated to the families to help with funeral service expenses, the page says.
Members of the public, both in Samoa and New Zealand, have taken to social media to pay tribute to those killed.
Police are continuing investigations into the cause of the crash. However, witnesses have said that it appeared the truck involved, which had been travelling south, blew a tyre and crossed onto the northbound side of the motorway - ripping through the barrier wires and hitting the van and other vehicles.
Images from the scene show the median barrier wrapped around the truck’s front wheels.
Vaimoana Mase is the Pasifika editor for the Herald’s Talanoa section, sharing stories from the Pacific community. She won junior reporter of the year at the then Qantas Media Awards in 2010 and won the best opinion writing award at the 2023 Voyager Media Awards.