Nepalese man has died in two-car crash two days after earthquake

Raj Kumar Mahat, 33, had been living in Rotorua for a month before the crash on State Highway 33. Police are continuing its enquiry into the crash. Photo / File

A Nepalese man has died from injuries sustained in a two-car crash in the Bay of Plenty that occurred two days after an earthquake devastated his home country.

Raj Kumar Mahat, 33, had been living in Rotorua for a month before the crash on State Highway 33, Paengaroa on April 27.

Mr Mahat was a passenger in a Toyota saloon driven by a friend and suffered multiple head, chest, torso, pelvic and leg injuries

Waiariki student representative and friend Umita Basnet told Fairfax Media that although Raj had only been in the country for one month and his wife Ranjita Poudel Mahat three months, she could see they were a beautiful couple and he was a loving, caring husband.

Mr Basnet said the couple had lost their home in the quake and Mr Mahat couldn't contact his parents.

They were eventually reached a couple of days after the crash happened.

Mr Basnet told Fairfax Media the Nepalese community was helping Mrs Mahat as best they could.

"ACC is taking on the financial medical burdens which is a great relief and the Non-Resident Nepali Association has been helping a lot with the situation."

Police enquiries are continuing into the collision and no further information was available.