KEY POINTS:
A mother-of-two who was killed in a car accident in West Auckland yesterday was on her way to help a family who have a Downs Syndrome daughter.
Melanie Anne Blakebrough, 38, of Te Atatu, died at the scene after the van she was driving crashed head-on into an Isuzu 4WD on Cottle Road.
Her 11-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son were rescued from the van as she lay dying in the driver's seat. The children were taken to Starship hospital with minor injuries.
A woman and three children were travelling in the other vehicle and were also taken to hospital.
The collision happened 1km from Taupaki School just before 9am.
Close friend Pastor Peter Brookes said last night Mrs Blakebrough was on her way to help a family who have a Downs Syndrome daughter when the accident happened.
"She was just about there ... The mother was in hospital and [Melanie] had been looking after the family for several months. She home-schooled her own two children so they were coming too."
The family belonged to Mr Brookes' Lincoln Road Bible Chapel, where they were actively involved in church life.
Mr Brookes said Mrs Blakebrough and her husband Douglas, who is an elder in the church, had just started a new youth group there.
Waitemata Serious Crash Unit investigator Senior Constable Gary Abbott said initial inquiries showed Mrs Blakebrough's van had veered on to the wrong side of the road. But determining exactly what occurred and why could take months.
Mark Mitchell, who was first on the crash scene, was at a nearby property when he heard a sound like a gunshot and ran to help.
" The lady in the van was ... non-responsive. She had kids in the back so I checked them, rescued them and told them to stay calm," he said.
Taupaki School principal Stephen Lethbridge said the crash had rocked the close-knit school community. "It has affected us and it will affect us in coming weeks as we move through it." The three children in the Isuzu went to the school.
Douglas, was last night staying at Starship to be with his children, who were being held overnight.
