Levin crash victim had just had pioneering surgery

A woman killed in a road accident yesterday had only recently undergone pioneering eye surgery designed to enhance her quality of life.

Noeline Gamboni, 64, and her husband, Peter, were killed about when their southbound BMW collided head-on with a Subaru Legacy on State Highway 1 near the intersection of Waitarere Beach Rd, north of Levin, yesterday morning. The couple lived at Waitarere Beach.

Mrs Gamboni, who was almost blind, received breakthrough eye surgery in October, which involved a pump being implanted into her abdomen that sent fluid into her left eyeball.

This month she had her right eye attached to the pump.

"I've got a bit of living left to do and I would like to be able to see where I'm going," she told The Dominion Post last month.

Mrs Gamboni's surgeon, Keith Small, said he was meant to meet her yesterday afternoon.

The next step in restoring her sight was a corneal transplant.

"She was doing well and (her eyes) looked promising," he said. "It's horrible, she was such a lovely lady."

Police did not yet know what caused the crash, but confirmed the collision happened in the southbound lane. The weather was fine and there was only a minor left-hand bend in the road.

Mr and Mrs Gamboni both died at the scene and the 20-year-old Subaru driver was flown to Palmerston North Hospital in a serious condition.

- NZPA