Three years ago, Annabel Whaanga starred in the Te Mana advertising campaign as the toilet cleaner who wanted more out of life - so she got a degree and became a communications executive at Manukau City Council.
Yesterday, the 34-year-old Auckland woman, who inspired many others to challenge themselves through
education, became the eighth victim of the weekend's road toll, the worst since February.
Mrs Whaanga was in a southbound car at Dome Valley, north of Warkworth, which was involved in a collision with a 4WD.
A backseat passenger of the car, 30-year-old Theressa Maria Abraham from Mangere, died at the scene.
Mrs Whaanga, who was sitting in the front seat, was flown to Auckland Hospital with severe injuries.
She died yesterday morning surrounded by dozens of friends and family, including her husband, Tau, and five children.
Her sister, Deb McCulloch, said Mrs Whaanga's injuries were so serious she should have died at the scene of Saturday's accident on State Highway 1.
But her will to survive in the hours after the accident reflected the strength that had contributed to her amazing transformation in her life.
"She went from being a person who lived on the street ... to somehow finding it within herself to find a desire to turn her life around.
"I really believe that if anybody could fight the miserable odds we were given on her survival it would be her," Mrs McCulloch said.
After living on the streets and cleaning toilets, Mrs Whaanga decided to do something to improve her life. At the age of 21, she went back to school as an adult student.
She then completed a degree in communications, at times relying on foodbanks to feed her children, before landing her job at the council and starring in Te Mana's advertising campaign.
Council chief executive Colin Dale said Mrs Whaanga touched the hearts of everyone she came into contact with.
