Friends raise $1500 in one day to help bereft parents

Eight-year-old James Crous died after a serious car crash on Hawke's Bay Expressway last week.

Support is flooding in from around the world for the family who lost their son and brother in a fatal car smash last week .

James Crous, 8, died at the scene after the Mazda he was travelling in struck a SUV queued in traffic at a roadworks site on Hawke's Bay Expressway on Thursday .

The South African family moved to New Zealand nine years ago, but friends they met in their homeland had started up a Go Fund Me page - similar to Give a Little - so the couple's friends around the world could donate money.

Roz Lee and Mariota Essery both now lived in the US, but had known James' mother, Kim, for "well over 20 years - and consider them family".

Ms Lee said the couple had a number of friends "scattered around the globe" and raising funds for the family was a way they could show their support.

The Crous family was thought of highly within their Taradale church, Basics 4 Life, community - with many cooking meals for the family during this time.

Already, in just one day, $1465 had been raised on the Go Fund Me page with an end goal of $5000.

"I figure the more money we can raise for our dear friends at this tragic time, the better," Ms Lee said.

"Please help us raise money to support our dear friends Kim and Bennie while they grieve the loss of their precious son, James."

James' mother and younger sister were taken to hospital after the crash.

A woman and her two children, one 11 years old and one 11 months old were in the SUV at the time.

The Hawke's Bay Expressway where James Crous died.

The trio were also taken to hospital, both groups had since been released.

The family's pastor Derik Kotze earlier summed up the bright youngster by saying "he really put his soul into everything." Mr Kotze said they were "a beautiful family" and James was friendly and always willing to help.

He said James enjoyed soccer, loved Lego and was home-schooled.

The pastor had visited the family every day since the tragedy.

Since the accident, a number of locals had raised concerns about lack of signage in the area warning motorists of the temporary 30km/h zone.

The Police Serious Crash Unit was investigating and would provide findings into possible contributing factors once their investigation was complete.

- The Go Fund Me page for the Crous family can be found at gofundme.com/crousfamilyfund