KEY POINTS:
A 5-month-old baby has fallen victim to one of the country's most notorious crash black spot areas, dying despite being strapped into his car seat.
John Pakau Lee Sunnex died in Auckland's Starship hospital on Tuesday after his family made the heartbreaking decision to turn off his life support following a crash which five of his family members survived.
The Whangarei family were heading south to Tokoroa to visit relatives when their Toyota Landcruiser left the road on State Highway 1, in the Dome Valley, north of Auckland about 7.30pm on Monday.
Police say their four-wheel-drive vehicle lost control on a bend and crashed over a bank, rolling several times before coming to a stop in a paddock, more than 100m from the highway.
St John Ambulance paramedics were called to assist John, who despite being in a car seat in the vehicle's rear, was reportedly having trouble breathing. He was taken to Starship hospital in a critical condition.
Paramedics also treated five other family members for minor injuries.
At 11.15am on Tuesday John's family, who had been told of the extent of the baby's internal injuries, had to make the agonising decision to turn off his life support.
Family spokesman, John's great-uncle Mangi Ariki, said the family would always treasure the short time they shared with John.
"He was a happy baby, always had a smile ... always cheerful," he said. "The hugs, cuddles and laughter will sadly be missed by all the family and treasured in our hearts for many more years to come."
Extended family members of John's parents, Glenn Sunnex and Matakeu Maitoe (Paora), had rallied at Mr Ariki's Tokoroa home. John's brothers and sisters - Tapita, 9, Briana, 6, Teokotai, 5, and Harrison, 1 - were also dealing with the loss.
Ms Maitoe had been driving Briana, Teokotai, Harrison, John and a cousin at the time of the accident.
Mr Ariki said he was not sure why the crash occurred and that John had been buckled in. Mr Ariki said he felt the enormity of the situation would really hit home during John's burial at Tokoroa Lawn Cemetery on Tuesday.
"I think it will be the day that we bury him that we feel the pressure."
Sergeant Stu Kearns of the Waitemata serious crash unit said police were awaiting the results of an autopsy to find out why John died.
"Any life is a tragic loss but certainly one so young is always particularly nasty for staff to deal with."
The crash occurred just weeks after the speed limit on a 6km stretch of the Dome Valley - which included the crash spot - was dropped from 100km/h to 80km/h, Mr Kearns said.
However, he noted that most crashes where drivers lost control in the valley occurred when motorists were driving at speeds below the speed limit but were not driving to the conditions. The serious crash unit investigation will continue to seek the cause of John's death.
