As Grant Collins' coffin slowly slipped into the earth, his parents vowed his death would not be in vain.
The 13-year-old Kaitaia College student was struck down by a four-wheel-drive on State Highway 1 in a 100km/h zone, just moments after getting off a school bus. He was hit on April 2 at the intersection with Houhora Heads Rd, about 35km north of Kaitaia.
For his parents, Lisa and Malcolm Collins, and two younger brothers Max, 6, and Sam, 3, the next 25 days were spent at Grant's hospital bed, hoping he would recover from his terrible head and chest injuries. Instead, they were forced to make the decision no parent ever wants to make - to turn off his life-support machine.
Grant, a keen soccer player who dreamed of becoming an astronaut, died on April 27.
Now his parents are calling for school buses to be more identifiable and fitted with flashing lights, to slow motorists to the legally required 20km/h.
Mrs Collins said:
"It's a tragedy we'll always live with, but we hope that there is something good that is going to come out of this."
Mr Collins, a police sergeant at Kaitaia, said he wanted to see school buses painted a highly visible, instantly recognisable colour - like those in America. Flashing lights and a swing-out stop sign could also help.
"We're not blaming the bus driver or the driver of the vehicle, but if the bus had been more visibly marked, this may not have happened," he said. "I'd like to see traffic stopped in both directions when children are getting on or off a school bus. What's a few minutes delay compared to a life?"
The couple are gathering statistics and preparing a report to lobby local politicians for a change.
"Our lives are only going to get busier and that means more traffic. We don't want to see anyone else go through this," Mrs Collins said.
Whangarei Hospital emergency department doctor Gary Payinda, who helped treat Grant after the accident, backed the idea of making buses more identifiable.
"Of all vehicles, school buses should be conspicuously marked and obvious to everyone. They shouldn't blend into the traffic background."
It was a split-second decision that cost Grant Collins' his life. As the school bus pulled away and headed north, Grant looked to his right. It was clear, so he dashed across the road - and never saw the southbound four-wheel-drive towing a trailer.
"As an adult, we make terrible decisions but nine times out of 10 we get away with it. For Grant there was no getting away with it," Mr Collins said.
Mr Collins was patrolling near Mangonui when the accident came across the police radio.
"I didn't know it was Grant initially but then I heard the road where it had happened ... It didn't take too long to put two and two together."
At the scene, Mrs Collins lay on the road with her son, encouraging him to keep breathing.
Grant was flown by helicopter to Whangarei then to Auckland.
"It hit me when we were in Whangarei Hospital. It was a room chokka with all this medical gear and medical staff. I knew then it was very, very serious," Mrs Collins said.
The family was grateful for their 25 days with Grant at Starship. "We could have lost him on the roadside. We were very fortunate in a very unfortunate situation to be able to sit with him and touch him and have hope," Mrs Collins said. "When we look back and piece it all together he did so much in his 13 years ... he was interested in everything."
DON'T LET OUR SON'S DEATH BE IN VAIN
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