Death brings holiday toll to one

Geoffrey Nicholas Peren. Photo / Supplied

The death of a Wellington man 17 days after he was hit by a car while crossing a busy city street has lifted the record-low Queen's Birthday Weekend road toll to one.

Geoffrey Nicholas Peren, 20, died in Wellington Hospital's intensive care unit on Monday, surrounded by his family.

Mr Peren is the great-grandson and namesake of Massey University founder Sir Geoffrey Peren.

He did not regain consciousness after he was hit by a car in Taranaki St just before 10pm on Monday, June 6.

Police said he was intoxicated and distracted by his cellphone when he walked into the path of the car that hit him.

Until Mr Peren's tragic death, the holiday weekend's zero road toll had been a first since records were started more than 50 years ago.

Wellington road policing manager Inspector Peter Baird said the traffic lights were green at the time.

"The motorist had a clear green light. He [Mr Peren] crossed against the lights."

Mr Peren was taken to hospital, but did not regain consciousness. He remained in intensive care with his family at his side until he died on Monday.

His mother, Caroline Peren, was "absolutely shattered" by his death.

Mr Peren's uncle, Gerald Hensley, told the Herald he was born in Wellington but moved to England with his parents in 1999, where he attended Winchester College in Hampshire and the Chelsea Arts College in London.

"In his gap year he was a young ambassador with the British Arts Council on its 2010 visit to China. He then spent some months in Costa Rica learning Spanish before he came back to study economics and design innovation at Victoria University," said Mr Hensley.

He described his nephew as a talented sportsman who represented Winchester in basketball, cricket and golf.

"After 10 years in England, during which time his father, Nicholas, died of cancer in 2005, he wanted to be a Kiwi again and to spend more time with his grandfathers."