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A time for mourning, not blame
Tuesday, October 23, 2012 • Sophie Rishworth
IT is not a time for blame but a time for mourning, says the family of 33-year-old Serena Smith (left) who was killed in Saturday night’s fatal car crash. It claimed four lives.

The body of the mother of four young children was brought home to Mangatu Marae today, where the whole community of Whatatutu was preparing for her farewell.

Family members from overseas and around the country are arriving to say goodbye to the young mum, who has been described as caring and loving, with a beautiful smile.

Her father Tom Smith said everybody was at a loss.

“Not just us but everyone, including the other families.”

Ms Smith was travelling home to Whatatutu after being the sober driver for her partner Trevor Brown, who she had just dropped off at a concert in Gisborne.

The couple have four children — Jacob Brown 10, Camryn Brown 8, Maia Brown 4 and Waimaria Brown 3.

Ms Smith was killed when the van she was driving was in a collision with a Ford Explorer that police say crossed the centre line.

Three people in the Ford Explorer died but the 58-year-old driver was pulled to safety by those first on the scene before the vehicle burst into flames.

This morning Gisborne police said it would be two weeks before the results of a toxicology report would be known. Until then they could not say whether alcohol was a factor.

The identities of the three other people killed have not been released but it is understood they were the 58-year-old driver’s 14-year-old son, the driver’s partner and her son.

They were travelling from Putaruru to visit family in Gisborne.

Senior Sergeant Maui Aben said they had not spoken to the driver and sole survivor of the crash yet but they would do so as soon as they could.

He is in Gisborne Hospital.

The names of the three other people killed would be released after their bodies had been forensically examined — which could be a few days, said Snr Sgt Aben.

• Police have praised the brave actions of those who helped at the scene.
FOUR LIVES LOST: Four people were killed in one of this district’s worst car crashes on Saturday night, more than doubling the country’s Labour Weekend road toll to seven. Picture by Roger Handford
Serena Smith
The accident happened on the main highway at Kaitaratahi, outside the home of Jessica McMillan and Matt Butler who were first on the scene. Picture by Dave Thomas
Comments
Shontele Teepa
08:32 p.m. Tuesday, Oct 23, 2012
I would like to say a big thank you to the lovely couple Jessica and Matt for being so helpful in this accident. Our cousin Serena has left us early in this tragedy but not our hearts.
I partially agree with our Koro Eru Smith who said: "We must forgive as this would not bring her back."
The driver will have to live with this for the rest of his life, but her children will go without a mother for the rest of theirs.
Forgiveness will be given, but never forgetting. That is the hardest.
We will always love you Serena.
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