Injured teenagers 'had seatbelts on'

Ashley Duncan (left) and Daisy Sparke both received hospital treatment. Photo / Supplied

Two teenagers in hospital with critical injuries after a horror smash in which several of their friends were thrown from a van were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident, a relative says.

Aaron Gourlay, who was driving the Toyota Hiace van, and his front seat passenger Jesse Howe were last night in a critical condition in Waikato Hospital's intensive care unit.

Daisy Sparke, 17, has been admitted to a ward while 16-year-old Hope Archer was yesterday admitted to the hospital's high dependency unit with serious injuries.

Four others remain in Rotorua Hospital in a stable condition.

The injured teens were among a group of 12 returning from a Taupo party when the van spun across the centre line, hit a bank and rolled several times about 2.30am at Tumunui, 14km south of Rotorua on Saturday.

Jesse Howe's grandfather, Dave Howe, yesterday told the Herald from his Rotorua home that his grandson had a bleed to his brain and his condition was "very serious".

Mr Howe said Jesse and Aaron were both wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident.

"It's got to happen to someone to be the worst-off and that just happens to be our boy," said Mr Howe.

"He's a tough kid but I'm just so concerned about our boy. His mother is just devastated and so is his father, they're only young themselves."

Mr Howe said the boys were sensible and were well-versed in the dangers of drinking and driving.

"They weren't drinking, he just couldn't take the corner," said Mr Howe.

"There are so many lectures now about speed and drinking and driving but I think they are sensible kids. They went to a decent school where they are taught these things."

Aaron Gourlay's mother, Nanette Gourlay, was too distraught to speak at length when contacted by the Herald but she believed her son would recover from his injuries.

"We don't really know 100 per cent yet but we think he's going to be okay," said Mrs Gourlay.

"He is one of two boys who they are keeping an eye on for swelling on the brain."

Jakob Zohs, who was among the passengers, yesterday told the Herald that Aaron was a "sensible and on-to-it type" and the group's sober driver.

Jakob, who suffered cuts and bruises, said the group were asleep at the time of the accident - he awoke to find himself lying in the middle of State Highway 5 shortly after it happened.

"I think that's probably what caused it. There was no one to speak with the driver to keep him awake."

He said some of the group were sitting on a couch in the van and the majority of those in the back were not wearing seatbelts.

Senior Sergeant Brent Crowe of Rotorua police said the investigating team would today focus on the scene at Tumunui while a forensic investigation is performed on the vehicle.

Mr Crowe said police would be looking to the vehicle inspection to determine whether there were enough seatbelts for all 12 people.

"Because of the number of bodies that were strewn on the road, it is suggested at this stage that some of the passengers were not wearing seatbelts," said Mr Crowe.

"It was a particularly challenging and disturbing scene and it is just a real tragedy for these children and the Rotorua community."

Six of the teens involved in the crash are students at Rotorua's John Paul College. Principal Patrick Walsh is now calling for all young drivers to undergo defensive driving courses.

HORROR CRASH 'RESEMBLED A WAR ZONE'

Mt Maunganui truck driver Greg Thompson was nearing the end of his shift when a logging truck driver flashed his lights at him on State Highway 5, near Rotorua.

He then got a message on his receiver that said: "Bro, there's been an accident - a bad one."

Parking his truck around the corner and leaving his flashing unit on full beam to warn other motorists, Mr Thompson came across something he said resembled a war zone.

He counted nine teenagers, who were returning to their Rotorua homes from a Taupo party, strewn across the road. The van they were travelling in had ploughed into a bank and lay on its side. Some of the teenagers had been on a couch in the van and it's believed were not wearing seatbelts. They had been flung from the vehicle as it rolled several times after hitting the bank.

"It was horrific, just unbelievable," said Mr Thompson.

"I've seen trucks turn over, trucks on fire, cars on fire and some pretty major accidents but nothing ever like this ..."

Mr Thompson and the other truckie found four teenagers lying on the bank, three more on the road and another two, 20m away, semi-conscious.

"Some were moaning and crying but I said to each of the kids 'I'm Greg the truck driver', told them to tell me where they had feeling and then said 'if you can yell or scream you'll be okay but if you don't make a noise you'll get me worried'. One girl was lying face down in the dirt and she was gurgling and gargling but we got her face out of the dirt to allow her to breathe, it was just awful."

Rotorua Senior Sergeant Brent Crowe was last night hailing Mr Thompson and the Rotorua logging truck driver as heroes.

Jakob Zohs, who was among the van's passengers who walked away with just a few cuts and bruises, said Mr Thompson "without a doubt" had saved his friends' lives.

Mr Thompson said he too wanted to thank the log truck driver. "The worst thing is knowing that if the logger hadn't been there I would have run those poor kids over."

CRASH CASUALTY LIST

Aaron Gourlay - in critical condition in intensive care at Waikato Hospital
Jesse Howe - in critical condition in intensive care at Waikato Hospital
Daisy Sparke - in stable condition in high dependency unit at Waikato Hospital with a broken pelvis
Hope Archer - in stable condition in high dependency unit at Waikato Hospital
Ashley Duncan - broken ankles,
Codie McKenzie - status unknown
Cullam Duffy - broken collarbone,
Matthew Temm - broken leg
Morris Bryant - cuts and bruises
Jakob Zohs - cuts and bruises
Jacob Robinson - cuts and bruises