Dad tells boy racers to 'wake up'

The father of one of three teens killed when a car crashed during an illegal street race has urged boy racers to "wake up".

Jesse William Langeveld, 19, Tylar James Parry, 16, and Ethan James Peek, 16, died when Langeveld's modified Honda Civic hit a building in Invercargill, about 12.35am on Friday.

Sole survivor Shawn Milne, 16, was yesterday in a "comfortable condition" in Southland Hospital.

Senior Sergeant Olaf Jensen said police were investigating speed, alcohol and driver behaviour, including the possibility the car was racing another.

Parry's father John urged boy racers to "wake up and think why are all these people dying".

"I don't want to sound like I'm preaching about boy racers, I'd just like people to know that it's not worth it.

"I would like people to come to my house now and see my 16-year-old son dead. He's dead and he'll never come back. My kids and my wife are suffering so much because they were racing. The pain will never go away."

The dead teens' grieving parents offered each other condolences yesterday morning. John hoped to see Milne in hospital over the weekend.

"Shawn just found out about Tylar dying and he just pulled out all of the tubes out of his arm. He's gutted. They were best mates. The whole lot were good mates."

John said Tylar was "in the wrong place at the wrong time - same as the other three boys".

Jan and John Langeveld said yesterday Jesse was a loved son, brother and friend who loved hunting, fishing and a few quiet drinks with his friends.

They didn't want the "tragic accident" to be used for political gain and asked people for the police investigation to be completed before judging their son.

"Quite simply, he was a good kid who loved his cars. Our thoughts and love go out to the other families involved in this tragic incident."

On Friday night about 100 carloads of friends drove in convoy to the crash scene to pay their respects.

The boys will be farewelled this week with their parents expecting hundreds of mourners.