KEY POINTS:
The mother of a 7-year-old boy killed when a 4WD vehicle overturned on Saturday was so distraught she could not talk to police.
A neighbour last night told the Herald the woman lost another young son in an accident several years ago.
In Saturday's accident, the boy died after the four-wheel-drive vehicle in which he was riding rolled on a farm in the Far North coastal township of Whangaruru about 8pm.
Police said a family associate was driving the car when it rolled.
The Herald understands the boy was thrown partially through the passenger window as the vehicle rolled and landed on its side.
It is believed he was not wearing a seatbelt and that he was pinned between the car and the ground.
Family members managed to lift the boy from under the wreck before emergency services arrived.
St John's Northland district operations manager, Tony Devanney, said paramedics from Russell and the Northland Electricity helicopter were sent to the accident.
The helicopter was the first to arrive but, because of the rugged terrain, landed about 1km from the site.
Paramedics were picked up in a Land Rover and taken to the boy. But by the time they arrived, it was too late.
A neighbour at a nearby property said the woman had lost another son in an accident several years ago.
She did not know the circumstances of that accident.
The boy's devastated mother has left the property to stay with family members near Whangarei.
Neighbours in Whangaruru were shocked by the tragedy.
One man said he rushed to the helicopter to see if he could help.
"I went down to see why a helicopter landed - that was the first I knew. Everybody was just really shocked. It was already too late. There was nothing anyone could do, really."
The man said he did not know the family.
"They don't live here fulltime; I think the father works overseas sometimes."
Northland police spokeswoman Sarah Kennett said police officers, including the serious crash unit and iwi liaison officer, went to the scene.
The accident did not add to the holiday road toll because it did not happen on a public road, she said.
People at the property were assisting police in their inquiries.
