Driver unaware crash passenger died in June

A young woman is dead after a head-on crash north of Wellington yesterday. File photo

A young Masterton driver who survived a fiery road crash near Eketahuna in June has still not been told his passenger died in the wreckage.

Tyler Murphy, a father-of-one who has just turned 20, was cut from the wreckage of the Subaru stationwagon he was driving when it left the road and rolled into a deep culvert before bursting into flames about 10.20pm on June 22.

His passenger Tom Morison, 19, died at the scene beside State Highway 2 and Mr Murphy was flown to Wellington Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

A family member, who declined to be named, said Mr Murphy had made a slow recovery from injuries he received in the crash, including serious head injuries and a broken neck, back and leg.

Mr Murphy was fighting to recover his memory and ability to walk, the family member said, and last month took his first few steps in the Wellington Hospital rehabilitation unit.

"His head injuries meant they had to remove the top of his skull to relieve the brain swelling and he's lost a significant amount of memory.

"His visits are still restricted because he hasn't been told that Tom was killed in the crash yet.

"I think that's so he can just concentrate on recovering.''

His family are hoping Mr Murphy will make as full a recovery as possible but they have not yet been given a definitive prognosis.

"He's talking and he has taken his first few steps, but the doctors can't really say how far his recovery will take him. He could already have all he ever will or he could go backwards again at any time, apparently.''

Mr Morison's death is to be the subject of a coronial inquest.

Police had not yet laid any charges against Mr Murphy in relation to the crash, the family member said.