Boy, 9, injured in crash that killed mother, dies

Anna Pidduck's funeral had been filmed for her son, however the 9 year-old has now passed away. Photo / Jason Dorday

A boy critically injured after his mother's car collided with a truck in Cambridge last week has died.

Jacob Eric Henderson, 9, of Leamington, was transferred to Auckland's Starship Hospital with a head injury, cracked ribs and a cut to his arm in the crash on Tuesday that claimed the life of his mother, Anna Pidduck, 45.

He died yesterday.

Family spokesperson Michael Pidduck, of Cambridge, said the loss of two family members was taking its toll on the family.

"At this time I would like to acknowledge the support we have received from people in the local community however we ask the media to respect our privacy at this time to enable us to make arrangements for Jacob's funeral and to grieve his and his mother's loss."

Waikato district road policing manager, Inspector Leo Tooman, said an investigation is still ongoing into the cause of the crash

"We have one witness describing Ms Pidduck's Ford Falcon coming to a stop for an oncoming truck at the intersection of Kaipaki and Cambridge Roads and then pulling out into the path of a second.

"Another witness describes the same vehicle slowing down but not stopping at the intersection and pulling out between the two trucks and being struck by the second, an empty tar tanker."

Mr Tooman said with children going back to school this week drivers need to be careful to ensure further tragedies are avoided.

"The loss of this boy's life is indeed a tragedy and the challenge for all of us as similar aged and even younger children hit the streets over the next few days is to ensure no other youngsters are placed in harms way," Mr Tooman said.

- Herald Online