Blackout possible in fatal car crash

A grandmother who crashed a car which caught fire, claiming the life of her grandson, may have blacked out moments before the accident.

Police confirmed yesterday they were investigating whether the woman driving her three grandchildren fell asleep or blacked out before crossing the centreline and striking an oncoming vehicle on East Coast Rd at Redvale, just after 3pm on Friday.

The crash happened 50m away from the family home.

It is understood the woman had just picked up the Pretorius children - Adam, 4, Holly, 6, and Alex, 9 - from Stella Maris Catholic Primary School in Silverdale and was driving them to Browns Bay, when the crash occurred just past their house.

Sergeant Stu Kearns, of the Waitemata serious crash unit, said his staff had not yet spoken to the woman.

"When she's well enough to talk [we will]. I'm not sure what condition she is in at the moment," he said. "She's the one who can tell us, the kids are too young."

Adam was pulled from the blazing car by bystanders, with his sisters, but could not be revived by paramedics.

Rescue reports from the crash scene are conflicting, but several people helped get the children out and carry them to safety, away from the flames and smoke.

Holly was yesterday due to undergo about nine hours of major surgery on her spine at Starship hospital.

A hospital spokeswoman last night said she was in a stable condition, as was her grandmother.

Flowers have been laid against the road marker near the charred black spot where the car went off the road and caught fire.

Residents said the Pretorius family had moved to the home less than six months ago.

It is understood the grandmother lived with them.