College Mourns Death of Girl
Killed when ute rolls
March12.2010
Paraparaumu College pupils and staff are mourning the death of one of the college’s students in a tragic accident.
A 16-year-old Paraparaumu College girl—Tiana Law — was killed when she was thrown from a utility vehicle on the Maungakotukutuku Road, Paraparaumu.
A young man in the ute received serious head injuries and was flown to Wellington Hospital in the Westpac rescue helicopter. Four other passengers also received moderate to serious injuries.
It’s understood four Paraparaumu College pupils, including the dead girl, were in the 4-wheel-drive Hilux ute, with two other young people who had left college.
Police say the Hilux failed to take a right-hand bend on a gravel section of the road, and rolled before hitting a lamp post.
As well as the rescue helicopter, three Wellington Free Ambulances were called to the scene; and the Kapiti emergency doctor. A total of three paramedics from the ambulances and the helicopter were able to help treat the casualties.
Local police closed the road while they investigated the possible cause of the accident.
At Paraparaumu College, classes continued after the accident – but grief counsellors from the Education Ministry were on site to help pupils affected by the tragedy.
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