Media Release: NZ Police, February 19, 2013, 8:13 am
As the investigation into a three car collision on SH23 near Whatawhata last week continues, a woman who was travelling in one of the cars has lost her fight for life in an Auckland hospital overnight. She was 18 year old Shayna Kumitau, who had been in Raglan visiting friends on the day of the accident. She died in Auckland Hospital early yesterday – four days after a head-on crash at Whatawhata.
Emergency services were called to the scene of the crash on SH23 shortly before 10pm on Thursday after the driver of an eastbound Nissan Bluebird crossed the centreline and collided head-on with a westbound Suzuki Swift.
The driver of a Hyundai Sonata following the Suzuki managed to break and avert all but a minor collision with the rear of the Swift.
The female driver of the Suzuki and a passenger in her car were both taken to Waikato Hospital by ambulance with serious injuries with the passenger later flown to a hospital in Auckland for surgery.
The driver remains in a critical but stable condition in Waikato Hospital however the 17-year-old female passenger died in Auckland overnight.
The driver of the Nissan suffered serious leg injuries in the crash.
An investigation by the Waikato Serious Crash Unit is continuing this week with investigators awaiting the results of toxicology tests to determine what, if any, part alcohol played in the crash.