An Auckland man will fight charges laid after the car police allege he was driving crashed into a Fonterra truck and caught fire, killing two occupants and injuring another.
The man, in his 20s, was this morning excused from attending his hearing in the Hamilton District Court and was granted name suppression.
He faces two charges of dangerous driving causing death and one of dangerous driving causing injury after the crash on Ulster St in Hamilton in the early hours of July 9, 2023.
Two people died at the scene of the crash on Ulster St in Hamilton in 2023. Photo / Hayden Woodward
The charges relate to the deaths of his passengers Kerihaehae (known as Rangimarie) Nepe and her partner Charlie Russell, both 19 of Hamilton, and another occupant, Daimai Tokoa, who was injured.
There were other passengers in the vehicle.
Police patrolling nearby raced to the crash and pulled occupants from the burning wreckage. The officers, who were praised for their quick and heroic actions, suffered smoke inhalation.
In court, defence counsel Olivia Boersma entered not guilty pleas on behalf of her client.
He was remanded on bail ahead of his next court appearance in April.
鈥業鈥檓 gonna miss you, baby鈥
Meanwhile, news of the crash at the time saw the concerned father of Nepe take to Facebook to try to track her down.
He then posted a heartfelt tribute to his 鈥渇irstborn鈥.
鈥淢y big girl, my number one, my honey girl. I don鈥檛 even know what to say or how to feel. This is not fair. I f***en love you. I鈥檓 gonna miss you, baby. I already do. Rest in love my honey girl,鈥 he wrote.
Rangiemarie Nepe and her boyfriend Charlie Russell died in the crash.
Russell鈥檚 sister Natalia Russell wrote that losing her brother has been the hardest thing.
鈥淟osing a little brother has to be the most numbing s**t,鈥 she wrote.
鈥淭his has got to be the hardest thing ever man ... I鈥檓 so broken ... love you so much my baby brother.鈥
Russell also posted a photo of the couple, asking them to 鈥渓ook after each other up there鈥.
Belinda Feek is an Open Justice reporter based in Waikato. She has worked at 九一星空无限 for 10 years and has been a journalist for 21.
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